Late Game-Tying HR's Not Enough As Ducks Outlast Huskies 6-5 In Eleven

SEATTLE - Game-tying home runs by Cole Miller in the bottom of the eighth and Johnny Tincher in the bottom of the tenth got Husky Ballpark rocking, but a walk-off celebration eluded the Dawgs as Oregon closed things out in the eleventh.

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LHP Adam Bloebaum got the start and, aside from a double to right, was able to get out of the inning with a trio of ground balls. Things got interesting in the second however, following a leadoff single through the right side. An error at third followed placing runners on first and second. The next batter lifted a ball to left field for an out, but both runners advanced into scoring position on the play. The Ducks could've held onto that out however, as the next batter drove a triple to right field for a pair of RBIs.  He would later score on a wild pitch to put the Ducks up 3-0 midway through the second.

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Following a pair of fly outs, the Huskies were looking for a little two-out magic. McKay Barney delivered with a triple to right. Will Simpson stepped to the plate next and drove a double down the left field line scoring Barney to put the Dawgs on the board.

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The Huskies got a big taste of the basepaths in the fourth as Johnny Tincher led off with a single to left field. Two batters later, AJ Guerrero singled through the right side. A Clayton single through the left side loaded the bases for Cole Miller. With the crowd already on the edge of their seat, he jumped on the first pitch lacing an absolute fireball just above the first baseman who was playing in on the grass. Through some sort of miracle the first baseman threw his glove up and the ball found the web for an out. A grounder, once again to first, ended the inning.

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RHP Jack Enger entered with two outs in the second and pitched a 5-3 ground out.  He sat Oregon down 1-2-3 in the third and offered just a single and a walk in the fourth. The fifth started strong with a strikeout, but the Ducks finally got to him with a home run to left. A couple fly outs followed to end the top half of the fifth with the Ducks on top 4-1.

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Tincher singled to left field for the second time in the game. A pair of fly outs followed, then Cam Clayton ripped a two-hopper to the second base side of the shortstop. He took two steps to his left and reached down, but was unable to come up with the ball and Clayton was safe at first base. Following a pitching change, Miller took the count full before walking to first base to load the bases. Josh Urps followed with an RBI single to second base scoring Tincher. Barney followed suit with a single of his own to first base just beating out the throw. That scored Clayton and the Dawgs were inching closer at 4-3.

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RHP Case Matter entered to start the sixth and limited the Ducks to just one walk over three innings to keep the game within reach. The Huskies would finally capitalize in the eighth as Cole Miller laid into a 1-1 pitch sending a line drive home run over the fence in left center to tie things up.

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Matter stayed hot retiring the Ducks in order in the ninth, but an 0-1 pitch to the leadoff batter in the tenth soon found itself on the other side of the right field fence. With the Ducks now up 5-4, righty Josh Emanuels replaced Matter for a pair of outs and lefty Bryce Armstrong got number three. Together they held the Ducks scoreless to keep the game within reach.

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Leadoff batter Johnny Tincher wasted no time erasing Oregon's lead as he destroyed the first pitch sending it out of the park to left. Two batters later, Dalton Chandler walked. Next, Cam Clayton reached on an error as he ripped a ball right through the third baseman's legs. A wild pitch followed to move them into scoring position, but the Dawgs were unable to deliver the coveted walk-off and the game headed to the eleventh tied at 5's.

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Armstrong continued on the mound and started strong with a ground out to short and a fly out to center.  A two-out walk spelled trouble however, and a pair of singles to the right side saw it realized as the walk scored.  A ground out followed sending the Dawgs to the bottom of the 11th looking to catch lightning in a bottle once again.

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Following two quick outs, Coby Morales walked on four straight pitches to make things interesting. Even more so was the fact that Tincher was returning to the plate.  Could he deliver the big knock once again?  He worked the count full keeping the crowd eager with anticipation. He then loaded and swung, connecting on a ball deep to left center. Eyes widened throughout the crowd as the center fielder raced toward the fence, but he slowed up at the edge of the track to haul in the final out.

Starter Adam Bloebaum went 1.2 innings giving up 3 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits with 2 walks and no strikeouts.  Bryce Armstrong took the loss moving to 1-1 on the season. He went 1 and a 1/3 giving up 1 earned run on 2 hits with a walk and no strikeouts. Case Matter was notable in relief allowing just one hit, a lone home run, over 4 innings with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts.