Yanez Deals Again, Ducks Split Doubleheader
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Brooke Yanez dominated in the circle once again, tossing her second straight complete game shutout in game two to lead Oregon to a doubleheader split with Oregon State. The Ducks dropped the game designated as a conference matchup, 8-1, before coming back to take the nonconference nightcap, 4-0.
Game 1: Oregon State 8, No. 3 Oregon 1
Oregon got out to an early lead but Oregon State responded with eight unanswered runs to end the game to hand the Ducks an 8-1 loss in game one of the doubleheader.
How it Happened: The Ducks once again jumped on the board in the first inning. Haley Cruse lined a single the other way then ended up at third after an error by the right fielder. Allee Bunker cashed her in one batter later with a sacrifice fly to left field, making it 1-0, Ducks.
The Beavers would answer immediately, jumping in front with single runs in the first and second innings. Oregon State pitcher Mariah Mazon helped out her own cause with an RBI single in the first before Madison Simon homered in the second to make it 2-1.
Three more Oregon State runs scored in the third with the big hit coming on a two-run double to make it 5-1. The Beavers tacked on two more in the fourth, with Mazon delivering a two-out RBI single before another came across on a bases-loaded hit by pitch.
Game 1 Notables: Cruse extended her reached base streak to 18 games … Samaria Diaz worked 2.1 innings out of the bullpen and struck out four … This is the first time since the 2019 season finale that Oregon lost by seven or more runs … First time this season that the Ducks were held to two or fewer hits.
Game 2: No. 3 Oregon 4, Oregon State 0
Yanez continued her stellar pitching with her second consecutive three-hit shutout of Oregon State, leading Oregon to a 4-0 win to split the doubleheader.
How it Happened: Yanez was dealing from the get-go again, retiring the first eight batters she faced before allowing a hit in the third inning. She worked with runners on base in only the third and fourth innings, retiring the side in order in the final three innings to end the game while setting down the last 11 she faced.
The Ducks offense got going in the fourth inning, breaking the scoreless tie to go up 1-0. After Terra McGowan reached on an error to lead off, Rachel Cid came up two batters later with an RBI double to left field to get Oregon on the board.
Oregon added two more in the fifth on back-to-back two-out RBI doubles. Tehya Bird started the rally with a one-out walk, and after a flyout, Bunker ripped a double down the left field line to score Bird from first. Terra McGowan made it 3-0 one batter later, narrowly missing a homer on a double off the top of the left center field wall to score Bunker.
Bird delivered another quality at-bat in the sixth inning to add another run, coming up with a sacrifice fly to plate Ariel Carlson and stretch the lead to 4-0.
Game 2 Notables: The complete-game shutout was Yanez's third of the season – all of which have come in her last five appearances … The shutout puts Oregon at 12 on the season as a team, a mark that currently leads the Pac-12 … The Ducks added two more two-out runs, marking the 25th time in 27 games this year that Oregon has struck with two gone in an inning … Three of the Ducks' five hits were doubles … Bird got her first collegiate start, getting the nod at shortstop, and drew two walks and picked up an RBI.
Overall Notables: Yanez has worked 14 shutout innings this weekend with 22 strikeouts while giving up just three walks and six hits … She's worked 19 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to the final two innings of her outing vs. Utah on March 21 … Cruse has reached base safely in the last 19 games and has a hit in 18 of those games … Bunker picked up her 30th and 31st RBIs of the season in the doubleheader and has driven in a run in 18 of the 27 games this year.
On Deck: The Ducks conclude the series with Oregon State with the series finale Sunday at 5 p.m. on Pac-12 Network.