Arizona Upends 18th-Ranked Oregon, 7-2
The Wildcats capitalized on sloppy play by the Ducks as Hamlin improved to 4-0.
FINAL: Arizona 7, Oregon 2 | Box Score
TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Arizona baseball team won its fourth-consecutive Pac-12 Conference game with Friday’s 7-2 series-opening victory over 18th-ranked Oregon before a season-high crowd of 3,609 at Hi Corbett Field.
Starter Cody Hamlin (W, 4-0) scattered 11 hits, but allowed just two runs in 7.2 innings as he remained undefeated on the season. The righty struck out a season-best six and issued just one walk in his fourth outing as the Friday night starter.
Arizona (20-6, 5-2) benefitted from a bevy of defensive miscues by the Ducks, including five errors which helped contribute to five unearned runs charged to starter Connor Harber.
Harber (L, 3-1) lasted 5.1 innings until he left with seven runs surrendered. The right-hander did strike out seven with no walks, but he contributed to Oregon’s sloppy defense with two errors of his own and two wild pitches.
The Wildcats struck first with a pair of runs in the third. JJ Matijevic’s double off the right field wall was the first hit yielded by Harbor, and Cody Ramer followed with a single that left runners at the corners. Justin Behnke then drove in Matijevic with a safety squeeze, and, after an error, Kevin Newman’s sacrifice fly plated Ramer.
Ramer started at second base in place of the Wildcats’ leading hitter, Scott Kingery, who missed the game due to illness. Kingery was one of several Wildcats battling a bug on Friday, including Saturday’s slated starter, Robby Medel, who could be pushed back to Sunday if unable to throw tomorrow. Tyger Talley would slide up a slot to pitch Saturday, if needed.
Oregon (17-9, 2-5 Pac-12) committed two more errors in the fourth frame, which added another run for the Wildcats. Matijevic’s two-out single knocked in Dalbec, who earlier singled and has reached base in in all 26 games this season.
After adding another run in the fifth, Arizona scored three times in the sixth aided by two more Ducks’ errors. A pair of runs came in when Behnke’s run-scoring sacrifice bunt led to an errant throw at first.
Harber was replaced by Josh Graham with one out in the sixth. Graham combined with Cooper Stiles for 2.2 shutout innings of relief.
The Ducks mounted a threat in the eighth inning when Hamlin turned the game over to Nathan Bannister. The reliever walked the only two men he faced, allowing a run to score, but closer Bobby Dalbec was able to escape a bases-loaded jam with a ground out.
Dalbec earned his fifth save of the year as he entered the game with the tying run on deck.
The series continues Saturday at 7 p.m. with a live television broadcast on the Pac-12 Network. There will be no radio broadcast on the Arizona IMG Sports Network due to the men’s basketball team’s participation in the NCAA Tournament.
GAME NOTES: Arizona snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Ducks, winning for the first time since May 5, 2012 … The crowd of 3,609 was the largest of the season at Hi Corbett Field … Cody Hamlin struck out a season-high six batters … Zach Gibbons saw his 13-game hitting streak snapped. Gibbons, who made 23 starts as the leadoff man a year ago, filled in for Scott Kingery as the team’s leadoff hitter … Kingery, who leads the nation with 49 hits, was unavailable to play Friday due to illness … Cody Ramer started his first game of the season at second base in place of Kingery … Kevin Newman had his 12-game hitting streak snapped … The Wildcats picked up just their second win (in seven chances) when being out-hit by their opponent … Bobby Dalbec has reached base in all 26 games this season.
