Ducks' late rally not enough

Saturday, April 22

Eugene, Ore.

2:00 PM

University of Oregon

23-12, 6-8

Stanford

22-12, 7-7

Stanford

Oregon

04/22/17 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Derren Iha

EUGENE, Ore. – For the second day in a row Oregon had the tying run on base in the ninth inning but couldn't cash in, losing to Stanford 8-5 in a Pac-12 Conference game on Saturday at PK Park.

How it Happened: The Ducks (23-12, 6-8 Pac-12) left the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning after scoring a pair of runs to cut the Cardinal lead to 8-5. Kyle Kasser drove in the first run of the inning with a two-out RBI single before Gabe Matthews pushed across another with a run-scoring single. Matthew Dyer came to the plate as the potential winning run but struck out to end the game.

Mikey Diekroeger got Stanford on the board in the top of the first inning for the second straight game with a two-run double off Oregon starter Matt Mercer (5-3).

Jake Bennett answered for the Ducks in the bottom of the inning with his second home run of the season, a solo blast to right field.

Daniel Patzlaff tied the game in the second inning with a run-scoring double off the left field wall to score Tim Susnara who led off with a single.

Stanford (22-12, 7-7 Pac-12) took the lead for good in the third inning after a leadoff double came around to score on a double play to make it 3-2.

Nico Hoerner made it 4-2 in the fifth inning with a solo home run to left field.

The Cardinal extended the lead, scoring four runs in the seventh inning to take an 8-2 lead. Matt Winaker delivered an RBI single off Connor Zwetsch who relieved Mercer after he allowed the first two batters to reach. A wild pitch, sacrifice fly and another run-scoring single brought in three more runs.

Kasser singled home Taylor Travess with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, cutting it to 8-3.

Box Score Notes: Mercer pitched six innings giving up six runs, five earned, on eight hits with two strikeouts and one walk to take the loss … Travess led the way offensively going 3-for-4 with a run scored … Spencer Steer finished 2-for-4 with a double and a walk … Kasser went 2-for-5 with two RBI to pick up his team-leading 15th multi-hit game … Bennett turned in a 2-for-5 day with a double and a home run … Matthews went 1-for-3 with an RBI and two walks … Brac Warren pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief allowing one hit while striking out two.

On Deck: Oregon and Stanford finish up the series tomorrow at 12 p.m. at PK Park. Isaiah Carranza (2-1, 4.05) is scheduled to pitch for the Ducks while the Cardinal will counter with Chris Castellanos (5-1, 2.67).