Ducks drop opener to UCSD

EUGENE, Ore. — Five Oregon pitchers combined to give up just two earned runs with eight strikeouts, but Oregon could not muster any offense in a 3-0 loss to UC San Diego on Tuesday night in nonconference action at PK Park.
 
How It Happened: The two teams started strong on the mound with neither team scoring in the first three innings.
 
UC San Diego (22-24) finally broke through scoring an unearned run in the fourth. Blake FitzGerald reached on a Drew Cowley fielding error with one out in the inning, before moving to third on an Emiliano Gonzalez base hit and scoring on an Austin Smith ground out.
 
UCSD added a run in the fifth on a pair of hits and tacked on an insurance run with a solo home run in the eighth.
 
Oregon (28-20) managed just one hit, a Gavin Grant infield single in the sixth.
 
Box Score Notes: Logan Mercado struck out the first three batters he faced to extend a streak to seven straight strikeouts dating back to his appearance at Oregon State on Sunday … Christian Ciuffetelli fanned three in 2.1 innings in his second start of the season … Oregon used both its Friday night (RJ Gordon) and Saturday (Isaac Ayon) starters in relief during the game … Cowley reached base twice in four plate appearances … He was hit by a pitch in the seventh and walked in the ninth.
 
Up Next: The Ducks will look to even the series Wednesday at 4:05 p.m.