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Fast start on offense, solid pitching lead Ducks to win

Mar 23, 2021

Box Score: #13 Oregon 10, Portland 1

EUGENE – Oregon scored eight runs in the first four innings and seven Ducks pitchers combined on a three-hitter in a 10-1 win over Portland on Tuesday night in nonconference action at PK Park.
 
The Ducks jumped out early scoring a run in the first, four in the second, one in the third and two in the fourth to take command of the game early.
 
Freshman RJ Gordon (1-0) made his first career start, striking out four Portland (10-9) batters in two innings. He was the first of seven Oregon pitchers, including four true freshmen and a second-year freshman, that combined for five 1-2-3 innings and allowed just five runners past first base.
 
How It Happened: Tanner Smith hit the second pitch in Oregon's half of the first inning onto the roof of the Player Development Area over the right-field fence to put the Ducks on top 1-0.
 
Oregon (11-4) used a number of Portland mistakes to break the game open in the second inning. The Ducks scored four runs without the benefit of a hit, while three Portland pitchers combined for four walks and four wild pitches. The inning started when the Pilots committed an error making all four runs unearned.
 
Oregon added another run in the third inning when Josh Kasevich scored on a passed ball after leading off the inning with a hit. The Ducks plated two more in the fourth inning, thanks in part to Pilot left fielder Jake Holcroft losing an Aaron Zavala fly ball in the sun that turned into an RBI triple. Zavala ended up scoring on a Nick Bellafronto sacrifice fly.
 
Bellafronto tacked on another Oregon run in the sixth inning. Zavala walked with two outs, stole second and scored on a Bellafronto base hit.
 
Oregon added another unearned run in the ninth. Kenyon Yovan singled to lead off the inning. Pinch runner Tyler Ganus advanced to second on a throwing error on a failed pick-off attempt and moved to third on an A.J. Miller fly ball. Ganus scored on Portland's ninth wild pitch.
 
Inside the Box Score: Smith hit his second leadoff home run of the season … He reached base three times with two walks and a home run … Kasevich, who made his third diving play at shortstop in as many games, had his fourth multi-hit game of the season … Bellafronto had his first multi-RBI game as a Duck … Yovan's eighth-inning hit extended his hitting streak to 10 games … He has reached base in 28 consecutive games dating back to the 2018 season (he redshirted in 2019 appearing in just one game as a pitcher) … Zavala extended his reached base streak to 15 games this season and 17 dating back to last season … He reached base four times with a triple and three walks … Oregon's pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts, the staff's third game with 13-plus strikeouts … The 13 strikeouts marked the 10th time this season the Ducks' staff had double-digit Ks.
 
Fresh faces: Three players – RHP RJ Gordon, 2B Tristan Hanoian, C Sam Olsson – made their first starts of the season … Hanoian and Gordon made their first career starts … RHP Scott Ellis made his first career appearance on the mound … 3B Nick Bellafronto made his first start since game two of the UC Santa Barbara series.
 
On Deck: Oregon returns to conference play on Friday for game one of a three game series at No. 21 Arizona.