It took 22 innings, but Oregon’s bats finally came alive and allowed the team to take a lead over UCLA — once again avoided a sweep — and win 5-3 on Sunday in the final game of the series on a three RBI triple from Scott Heineman.
“Obviously we struggled to score runs this weekend and we knew runs would be hard to come by against the UCLA staff and in this ball park,” oregon head coach George Horton said. “For us to answer back twice today and figure out how to get it done and salvage one win was significant.”
Jake Reed had his second Sunday start, both ending in victories, and pitched a strong six innings. He allowed three runs on six hits with three strike outs.
“I felt alright,” Reed said in reference to his outing. “It was nice to get that last win. It’s a cruel game … the way that Tom (Thorpe) and Cole (Irvin) pitched on Friday and Saturday and then for me to get the win, I feel bad for those guys. But it’s big for us to get that win.”
UCLA got on the board in the top of the third inning on an RBI double from Brenton Allen, but the Ducks were able to strike back in the bottom of the inning when J.J. Altobelli was walked in the with two outs. Altobelli crossed home plate from two singles hit up the middle by Brett Thomas and Aaron Payne to tie the game at 1-1.
UCLA countered with back-to-back RBI singles in the fifth inning, putting them up 3-1, but again Oregon found a way to get it done in the second half of the inning.
Turning point. After Connor Hofmann stuck out to lead off the bottom of the inning, Altobelli lined one up the third baseline for a single. Thomas grounded a single to the short stop, then Payne was walked to load the bases with Ryon Healy stepping to the plate, prompting a pitching change for UCLA.
Healy was visibly excited, bobbing up and down in the on-deck circle, while Ryan Deeter warmed up on the mound. Healy grounded out with an RBI with the short stop throwing out Payne at second on a fielders choice play. Next up was Heineman, who after being named Pac-12 Player of the Week had gone 0-8 in the series.
Heineman drilled a triple to the warning track in right-center field, scoring three and giving the Ducks a 5-3 lead, equaling the largest lead by either team in the series.
“I saw a fastball, a pretty good pitch,” Heineman said of the ball he hit. “That guy Ryan Deeter, he’s a dominant pitcher. I was just trying to put a good swing on it and it ended up working out.”
Heineman later said that he had a little insight on the pitcher he faced. Deeter was apparently his brother’s roommate at UCLA and one of his best friends.
Oregon got great pitching from their bullpen in the seventh, eighth and ninth with Christian Jones, Garrett Cleavinger, and Jimmie Sherfy all throwing an inning of hitless baseball.
Sherfy struck out the final two UCLA batters, reaching as high as 96mph on the gun. With the win he got his 13th save of the season, which leads the nation.
“That’s a big league save guy that we saw today,” Horton said of his closer. “He’s throwing strike one, strike two and the only balls he’s throwing out of the zone are when he’s intentionally throwing out of the zone.”
On the Horizon. The Ducks take to action on Tuesday at 3 p.m. in Portland. Cole Wiper will get the start with Horton planning on much of the pitching coming by committee.