Kasevich highlights big win at Portland
PORTLAND – Josh Kasevich had a career day and Gabe Matthews continued to make his mark in the Oregon record books on Wednesday in an 18-1 win over Portland at Joe Etzel Field.
Kasevich, a second-year freshman, posted career highs in hits, RBI and runs scored in leading a 21-hit Oregon (20-7) attack while helping the Ducks avenge a 6-4 loss to Portland (16-16) last Tuesday at PK Park. Kasevich went 5-for-6 with six RBI and four runs scored to pace Oregon.
Matthews, who finished 2-for-3 with a RBI and run scored before leaving the game in the middle of the fifth with a 16-0 lead, tied J.J. Altobelli (2010-13) as the all-time hits leader at Oregon when he picked up his 211th career knock in the Ducks' four-run fifth inning.
How It Happened: Oregon wasted little time taking command. The Ducks scored a run in the first, two more in the second and then blew the game open with a nine-run third inning.
Tanner Smith led off the game with a double and scored on a base hit by Kenyon Yovan in the top of the first to give the Ducks the early lead. Back-to-back doubles by Matthews and Kasevich in the second made it a two-run game, before Bryce Boettcher drove in Kasevich for a three-run lead.
Things got ugly for Portland in the third. Three straight singles to lead off the inning by Yovan, Aaron Zavala and Josiah Cromwick (RBI) gave Oregon a four-run lead. After a pitch to load the bases hit Matthews, Kasevich delivered a two-run single to make it a 6-0 game.
Sam Novitske walked to load the bases again, before Boettcher picked up his second RBI with a bases loaded walk. A Smith run-scoring infield single and a Tristan Hanoian sacrifice fly made it 9-0. Yovan added a two-run double and Jack Haley picked up a RBI single (his first career hit and RBI) to round out the scoring in the third for a 12-0 lead.
Oregon put four more runs on the board in the top of the fifth. Matthews drove in a run with a RBI single and then scored on Kasevich's three-run homer for a 16-0 lead.
Portland got on the board in the sixth with a run, but Oregon answered with two in the top of the ninth. A.J. Miller had a RBI single in the final frame, while Hanoian drove in his second run on a ground out.
Inside the Box Score: Oregon matched a season-high in both runs and hits … The Ducks finished with six doubles, their second most two-baggers this season … Zavala finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, his team best 12th multi-hit game of the season … Yovan (3-for-6, 3 RBI, 2 R) Kasevich and Matthews (2-for-3, RBI, 3 R) all had their ninth multi-hit games of the season … Smith (2-for-3, RBI, 2 R) tallied his eighth multi-hit game of the year … Novitske (3-for-4, 2 R) had a season high in hits and finished with his fourth multi-hit game … Boettcher and Hanoian both had their first career multi-RBI games … Ten different Ducks had at least one hit … Six Duck pitchers combined for nine strikeouts and just one walk … Freshman RJ Gordon (3-0) picked up the win … Freshman Isaac Ayon fanned three in one inning of work.
Matthews record watch: Matthews made his 200th career start, which ranks second behind Altobelli's 229 … Matthews added to his career lead in doubles, picking up his 50th to lead off the Ducks two-run second inning … He drove in his 118th career run to move into a third-place tie on the career list with Ryon Healy (2011-13) … The Ducks' first baseman also was hit by his 35th career pitch, which ranks fifth all time and had his 53rd career multi-hit game that moved him past Altobelli into fourth all-time.
On Deck: Oregon returns to conference play on Friday for game one of a three game series at USC.