Box Score
EUGENE, Ore. --- The Oregon Ducks used a seven-run third inning to cruise to a 14-3 win over the Portland Pilots in a non-conference baseball game played at PK Park on Tuesday night. Senior Matt Mardesich helped lead the Portland offense with two RBI’s, while fellow senior Kevin Armijo had two hits and scored twice.
After neither team was able to cross home plate during the first two innings, the Ducks sent 12 men to the plate en route to the seven-run outburst in the third. Aaron Jones and Tyler Kuresa each had a two-run double during the frame.
The Pilots (12-21) responded with two runs in the top of the fourth inning, but Oregon (19-16) put the game out of reach with three runs in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the fifth.
Five pitchers took the hill for Portland, including starter Matt McCallister (0-3), who gets saddled with the loss. McCallister cruised through the first two innings, retiring six of the seven batters he faced, while striking out two. But the third inning was a different story as the Ducks got to the sophomore righty for five runs. His final line was five runs on three hits and two walks in 2.1 innings.
Oregon starter Jeff Gold (1-0) picks up his first win after yielding three runs on six hits in 5.0 innings. He fanned six and didn’t issue a walk. Three relievers held the Pilots in check during the final four innings.
Mardesich knocked in his first run with a triple in the fourth that scored Armijo, who had led off the inning with a single. Mardesich then trotted home on a sacrifice fly by senior Riley Henricks. In the sixth, Mardesich knocked in Armijo once again, this time courtesy a sacrifice fly. Armijo had doubled to lead off the frame.
The Ducks, who scored their final two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, held a slim 10-9 advantage in hits. Redshirt-freshman Chet Thompson also had two hits for Portland.
The Pilots next turn their sights on the West Coast Conference as they travel to San Diego for a three-game series against the Toreros. UP and USD are set to play at 3 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday and at 12 p.m. on Saturday at Cunningham Stadium.
