April 23, 2011
Oregon 7, Arizona 3 (Box Score)
EUGENE, Ore. - The No. 23 Arizona baseball team could not overcome a hot offensive start for host Oregon as the Ducks downed the Wildcats 6-3 on Saturday afternoon at PK Park to capture two of three games in the Pac-10 Conference series.
Oregon (21-17, 4-8) scored two runs in the first inning and added two more in the second as it knocked Arizona starter Tyler Hale out of the game after just 1.2 innings pitched.
Alex Keudell pitched 5.2 innings for the Ducks and earned the victory to improve to 5-3 on the season. He allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks. Thereafter, Scott McGough pitched 3.1 innings of scoreless relief to keep the Wildcats off the board and earn his fourth save of the season.
Arizona (24-15, 6-9 Pac-10) claimed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Joey Rickard singled and stole second base to open the frame. He moved to third on a groundout by Cole Frenzel, before Jett Bandy's sacrifice fly allowed Rickard to score the game's first run.
The Ducks took the lead in the bottom of the first. Danny Pulfer, who drew a walk to lead off, moved to second on a wild pitch. Aaron Jones delivered a two-out single to centerfield to score Pulfer. Jones then crossed home following a walk when Ryon Healy singled to center field.
Oregon tacked on two more runs with two outs in the bottom of the second. After Hale recorded two quick outs, he allowed a single, a walk and a wild pitch, which put runners at first and second.
Arizona went to the bullpen and brought in Konner Wade, who gave up RBI singles to Stefan Sabol and Jones, which pushed the Ducks lead to 4-1.
In the third, Healy hit a lead off home run of Wade to extend the lead to 5-1.
Arizona was able to scratch across a run in the top of the fourth. Bandy singled and moved to second on a walk to Robert Refsnyder, and Johnny Field followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 5-2.
Oregon added another run to its line in the bottom of the fourth. Pulfer singled and moved to second on a balk by Wade. A bunt moved Pulfer to third, which allowed Sabol to pick up and RBI on a groundout.
The Wildcats mounted a small two-out rally in the top of the sixth. Refsnyder drew a walk and came in to score on Field's double to the left field corner. Josh Garcia took four pitches for a walk, which ended the outing for Keudell.
The score remained 6-3 until the bottom of the eighth inning when the Ducks capitalized on a leadoff double by Healy of reliever Bryce Bandilla. Healy stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by KC Serna to set the score at its final, 7-3.
Oregon went to the bullpen and brought in McGough who faced pinch-hitter Bobby Brown. McGough won the battle with a strikeout to end the inning and strand a pair of runners.
The Wildcats put a leadoff runner on base in five of their nine trips to the plate, but they hit into two double plays and left eight runners on base. Arizona was just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Arizona will return home to begin a seven-game homestand beginning with No. 9 Arizona State in a single non-conference contest on Tuesday, April 26. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. (MST) at Kindall Field/Sancet Stadium.
