Ducks rally with five runs in the eighth to clinch series

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon scored five runs in the eighth inning to rally from a three-run deficit in an 8-6 win over Utah on Saturday at PK Park.
 
The Ducks (12-6, 4-1 Pac-12) clinched the series with the win after beating the Utes (11-6-1, 2-3 Pac-12) 11-4 on Friday night in game one of the series.
 
How It Happened: Brennan Milone gave Oregon an early 1-0 lead homering in the bottom of the first inning, his second round tripper in as many days.
 
Utah rallied with three runs in the top of the third to take the lead. After a two-out throwing error, the Utes strung together a walk and three straight hits to plate three and take a 3-1 lead.
 
It stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth when Gavin Grant reached with on a base hit to set up Tanner Smith, who ripped a two-run homer over the right-center field wall to tie the game.
 
Utah answered scoring a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to take a three-run lead, but it wasn't enough.
 
Anthony Hall and Sam Novitske started the eighth-inning rally with one-out walks. Pinch-hitter Josiah Cromwick loaded the bases with a hit-by-pitch on a no-ball, two-strike pitch.
 
Grant cut the lead to two with a RBI single to left field scoring Hall. Smith followed with a two-run single to tie the game, before Shade gave the Ducks the lead with a sacrifice fly. Milone doubled driving in Smith for a two-run Duck lead.
 
All-American closer Kolby Somers came in to get the final three outs and notch his second save of the season.
 
Box Score Notes: Matt Dallas picked up his first career win as a Duck, tossing a scoreless eighth … Dallas allowed a leadoff double in the inning, but pitched out of the jam without allowing a run … Milone homered in consecutive games for the second time this season … He had homers in games one and two against St. John's … Smith (2-for-5, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R) had his ninth multi-hit game of the season and his first multiple-RBI game … His career totals are now 46-multi-hit and 16 multi-RBI games … He tied KC Serna (2009-11) for the eighth most multi-hit games in school history … Milone (2-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R) had multiple hits for the eighth time this season and the second in the series … Shade (2-for-4) also had his second multiple-hit game in the series and his ninth of the season … Grant had his sixth multi-hit game of the season and the 17th of his career … Grant also had his third multiple-RBI game of the year and the sixth of his career … Oregon has won 11 straight against Utah.
 
Up Next: Oregon will look for the series sweep on Sunday with an 11:05 first pitch. The game will be televised on Pac-12 Oregon and Pac-12 Mountain.