Going into the second game of the series between Oregon and Oregon State, it seemed like an exciting match up. Oregon got the better of their rival Friday night, winning 3-0, but it was a hard-fought game. Headed into game two, it was a showcase for each teams’ stand out freshmen.
For Oregon, it was Cole Irvin, who entered the game with a 10-2 record, a 2.64 ERA and having pitched three complete games so far this season.
For Oregon State, it was righty Andrew Moore, who, with his now 11-1 record and 1.34 ERA, is perhaps the more impressive of the two on the season.
It quickly turned into a game Oregon will try to wipe from their memory. Moore didn’t have overwhelming stuff, finishing with only two strikeouts, but he went a full nine shut out innings and allowed just two hits.
“His fast ball location was real good and he was throwing his breaking ball on the first pitch, which is a good pitch,” said J.J. Altobelli of Moore. “He just got after our hitters.”
Irvin started strong, shutting Oregon State out through the first five innings, but at times looked shaky. In the top of the sixth, Michael Conforto hit a powerful opposite field home run to left field to put the Beavers on the board.
“Conforto’s home run the other way was a good pitch,” said Oregon coach George Horton. “When a guy can hit an opposite field home run in this ball park … He didn’t sneak up on me though, I know he’s pretty good.”
The Beavers again struck at Irvin in the seventh with another home run. Ryan Barnes absolutely crushed the ball out of centerfield for his first home run of the season.
However, the sixth and seventh innings were small fries compared to the show Oregon State put on in the eighth.
Darrell Hunter took the mound to start the inning, promptly giving up three runs in two-thirds innings. Christian Jones was then brought in to snag the final out but first gave up an RBI single to Barnes, plunked Kavin Keyes and then threw a wild pitch allowing Barnes to score.
He eventually got the final out, but not before the Ducks had surrendered five runs in the inning and fell into a 7-0 hole.
The ninth wasn’t kind either as the Beavers smacked around Jared Priestly, who gave up hits to his first three batters faced and allowed two more insurance runs for the Beavers.
“We got out played,” said Horton. “Tip your cap to the Beavers. What you do when things don’t go your way Friday night, you get up off the deck and do something about it. I thought they were extremely good. Unfortunately Darrell [Hunter] didn’t make enough good pitches and their little second baseman (Andy Peterson, who went 4-5 with two RBI) is a scrappy little guy.”
As one -sided as the game was, the series is tied at 1-1 headed into Sunday’s rubber match and with a win, Oregon can tie Oregon State for first in the Pac-12. However, a loss would put them two games behind and, with three games left in the season, all but guarantee a Pac-12 title for Oregon State.
“Gotta have a quick memory,” said Altobelli. “It was a good ball game until the eighth and things got away from us a little bit. That kid for them pitched a great game. He’s a good pitcher. We got another one tomorrow.”
Oregon will have a chance to rebound from the loss and get a series win on Sunday. Jake Reed will get the start, first pitch is at 12 p.m.