Ducks Lose Big Lead, Drop Game 1 at UW
SEATTLE, Wash. — No. 20 Oregon jumped out to a six-run lead but could not hold on as Washington picked up a 7-6 Pac-12 Conference win at Husky Ballpark on Friday.
The Ducks (32-16, 14-11 Pac-12) homered three times in the third and fourth innings combined to build the lead but the Huskies (19-23-1, 10-15 Pac-12) answered with runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings to take the lead.
How It Happened: Oregon jumped out early thanks to the long ball. In the third inning, Maddox Molony added to his freshman home run record blasting a solo shot into the left-field bullpen. After a Bryce Boettcher double, Mason Neville made it 3-0 with a two-run homer over the right-center field wall.
The Ducks tacked on three more in the fourth. Bennett Thompson started the rally with a double into the left-field corner before scoring on a Jeffery Heard base hit. Drew Smith capped the scoring lining a two-run homer over the left-field wall for a 6-0 lead.
Washington answered with four runs in its half of the fourth to cut the Ducks lead to two, before scoring two more in the sixth to tie it.
Oregon had opportunities late in the game stranding two runners on base in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings. The Ducks' best opportunity came in the eighth when they put runners on second and third with one out, but the Huskies got out of the jam when Molony struck out and pinch-hitter Justin Cassella popped out.
Box Score Notes: Oregon's three home runs gave them 80 on the season … Molony's home run was his eighth, two more than the Ducks' old freshman home run record ... Smith (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, R) had his 16th multiple-hit game of the season and the 28th of his career … His also had his eighth multi-RBI game of the year and the 13th of his career … Thompson (2-for-4) added his eighth multi-hit game of the season and the 21st of his career … Neville (1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, R) picked up his eighth multi-RBI game of the year.
On Deck: The two teams meet again Saturday at 5:05 p.m. in game two of the series.