Feb. 19, 2016
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Oregon scored six times in the top of the ninth inning to break a 2-2 deadlock and open the season with an 8-2 victory over San Diego State Friday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The offensive outburst came just after the Aztecs had rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth.
The contest saw a pair of fine pitching performance by the Ducks' Cole Irvin and SDSU's Marcus Reyes. Neither hurler, however, was around at the end to be involved in the decision.
No. 14 Oregon took the lead in the top of the third with a pair of runs on two hits against Reyes, who tossed seven full innings allowing those just the two runs on a total of four hits while walking two and striking out five.
Irvine, meanwhile, tossed seven innings of shutout ball, limiting San Diego State to six hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.
The Aztecs would tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. CJ Saylor drew a leadoff walk, and when Alan Trejo's grounder was thrown into right field by Duck shortstop Travis Moniot, the Aztecs found themselves with runners at second and third and no outs. One out later, Andrew Brown drew a walk to load the bases against Oregon reliever Stephen Nogosek before Spencer Thornton's sacrifice fly to right and a two-out single by Justin Wylie tied the game at 2-2.
In the top of the ninth, the Ducks put runners at first and second with one out when Moniot's sacrifice fly to deep center field allowed Steven Packard to score from second base in what was a close play at the plate. Oregon then got a single and pair of walks to score a second run and make it a 4-2 game before a costly two-out error would pave the way for the visitors to tack on four unearned runs.
Despite allowing the tying run in the eighth. Nogosek claimed the victory for Oregon to move to 1-0 on the season while SDSU's Jacob Erickson (0-1) was pinned with the loss despite only allowing a leadoff single and recording a strikeout in the top of the ninth.
Sophomore designated hitter David Hensley was the lone Aztec to record more than one hit on the night as he finished with a single and double in four plate appearances.
The Aztecs and Ducks will continue their three-game weekend series on Saturday (Feb. 20) with a contest scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.