EUGENE, Ore. – Taylor Lane notched his fourth extra-base hit of the series and Hunter Bishop demolished a solo shot, but Sun Devil Baseball fell, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at PK Park.
Lane and Bishop would combine for three of the six Devils hits on the afternoon. On the other side of the diamond, ASU pitching combined to strand 14 Ducks on base, with the bullpen keeping them off the scoreboard for the final four frames of the rubber match.
Starting left-hander Chaz Montoya ran into some trouble early on, recording two quick outs on three pitches, but back-to-back free passes through a hit batter and a walk would put two on. Montoya would induce a clutch swinging strikeout to end the threat and provide some much-needed momentum to the offense going into the second frame.
A scorching hot Lane knocked a one-out double to the warning track in left field, and catcher Zach Cerbo would follow with a single to put runners on the corners. Shortstop Carter Aldrete would step into the box and send a fly ball just deep enough for Lane to tag up from third, Aldrete's 23rd run batted in of the season, to stake a 1-0 lead.
The Ducks would mount a base-runner in each of the first three innings against Montoya, but he represented the epitome of efficiency to set them down with minimal damage. The freshman used just four pitches to retire the side in the second inning, including working around a one-out double by inducing two-straight one-pitch outs. However, two singles and a double by Oregon would make it a tie ballgame.
Montoya was unable to stifle Oregon's rally in their half of the fourth inning, as they would claim a 3-1 lead. The Glendale-native would walk a batter, however, the runner was quickly erased with a smooth pickoff move to first to catch him stealing. The Ducks responded with two doubles and another walk to send two across the plate.
Threatening again in the fifth frame, a leadoff walk and a single put two Ducks on with one out, prompting a call to the bullpen. Junior Ryan Hingst answered, stranding the bases loaded with a swinging strikeout and huge infield pop out to end the inning.
The Devils were largely quieted by Oregon's starter for the middle portion of the game, notching their first base runner since the second inning in the form of an infield single by junior Andrew Shaps in the sixth.
Hingst exited without recording an out in the bottom of the sixth, making way for redshirt sophomore Reagan Todd. The lefty faced three batters, recording a fielder's choice, single and strikeout, before handing the ball over to junior Jake Godfrey, who used a fielder's choice to strand his team-leading 18th inherited baserunner.
Bishop took a trot around the bases to lead off the seventh inning, sending the fourth pitch of his at-bat way over the wall in left centerfield for his fourth home run of the season, making it a one-run ballgame.
ASU put the game-tying run in each of their final two chances, including just 90 feet from home plate in the eigth, however, they were unable to capitalize.
NOTES: Aldrete is tied for the team-lead in RBI (23) with Gage Canning…Aldrete's six sacrifice flies are good for 15th in the nation…Lane had four extra-bases hits in the series (3B in game one, two HR in game two and 2B in game three) after having one extra base hit on the season entering the weekend (2B against UCLA on 4/1)…Andrew Shaps has now reached base in 17 consecutive games – the longest such streak in his career - and has hits in seven straight…Godfrey stranded all four of the runners he inherited in the series and has stranded 18 of 19 inherited runners on the season…Bishop is tied for second on the team in home runs (4) with Shaps…
Lane and Bishop would combine for three of the six Devils hits on the afternoon. On the other side of the diamond, ASU pitching combined to strand 14 Ducks on base, with the bullpen keeping them off the scoreboard for the final four frames of the rubber match.
Starting left-hander Chaz Montoya ran into some trouble early on, recording two quick outs on three pitches, but back-to-back free passes through a hit batter and a walk would put two on. Montoya would induce a clutch swinging strikeout to end the threat and provide some much-needed momentum to the offense going into the second frame.
A scorching hot Lane knocked a one-out double to the warning track in left field, and catcher Zach Cerbo would follow with a single to put runners on the corners. Shortstop Carter Aldrete would step into the box and send a fly ball just deep enough for Lane to tag up from third, Aldrete's 23rd run batted in of the season, to stake a 1-0 lead.
The Ducks would mount a base-runner in each of the first three innings against Montoya, but he represented the epitome of efficiency to set them down with minimal damage. The freshman used just four pitches to retire the side in the second inning, including working around a one-out double by inducing two-straight one-pitch outs. However, two singles and a double by Oregon would make it a tie ballgame.
Montoya was unable to stifle Oregon's rally in their half of the fourth inning, as they would claim a 3-1 lead. The Glendale-native would walk a batter, however, the runner was quickly erased with a smooth pickoff move to first to catch him stealing. The Ducks responded with two doubles and another walk to send two across the plate.
Threatening again in the fifth frame, a leadoff walk and a single put two Ducks on with one out, prompting a call to the bullpen. Junior Ryan Hingst answered, stranding the bases loaded with a swinging strikeout and huge infield pop out to end the inning.
The Devils were largely quieted by Oregon's starter for the middle portion of the game, notching their first base runner since the second inning in the form of an infield single by junior Andrew Shaps in the sixth.
Hingst exited without recording an out in the bottom of the sixth, making way for redshirt sophomore Reagan Todd. The lefty faced three batters, recording a fielder's choice, single and strikeout, before handing the ball over to junior Jake Godfrey, who used a fielder's choice to strand his team-leading 18th inherited baserunner.
Bishop took a trot around the bases to lead off the seventh inning, sending the fourth pitch of his at-bat way over the wall in left centerfield for his fourth home run of the season, making it a one-run ballgame.
ASU put the game-tying run in each of their final two chances, including just 90 feet from home plate in the eigth, however, they were unable to capitalize.
NOTES: Aldrete is tied for the team-lead in RBI (23) with Gage Canning…Aldrete's six sacrifice flies are good for 15th in the nation…Lane had four extra-bases hits in the series (3B in game one, two HR in game two and 2B in game three) after having one extra base hit on the season entering the weekend (2B against UCLA on 4/1)…Andrew Shaps has now reached base in 17 consecutive games – the longest such streak in his career - and has hits in seven straight…Godfrey stranded all four of the runners he inherited in the series and has stranded 18 of 19 inherited runners on the season…Bishop is tied for second on the team in home runs (4) with Shaps…