Despite some rain delays, No. 10 Oregon was able to defeat the Arizona baseball team on Sunday 5-1 to earn the series sweep at home.
As the three final series of the season approach, Arizona (18-28, 7-17 Pac-12) has lost its past three Pac-12 sets after winning a series against UCLA and lost eight of its last nine games.
Arizona’s offense looked different on Sunday compared to Saturday night. After recording 14 hits on Saturday, the Wildcats had a difficult time recording hits and getting the offense going on Sunday.
Senior Brando Tessar’s breaking pitch held Arizona’s offense for eight innings before freshman Trent Paddon went in to relieve him for Tessar in the top of the ninth. Tessar held Arizona until sophomore shortstop Kevin Newman launched a double, the first hit for batters in the top five spots in the Wildcats’ batting order, in the top of the eighth inning.
It was Tessar’s first win in Pac-12 play since 2012.
Sophomore Zach Gibbons advanced to third on Newman’s hit. Sophomore center fielder Scott Kingery was intentionally walked to load the bases. The rest of the batting order was not able to get on base and Arizona stranded all the runners.
Defensively for Arizona, sophomore Tyger Talley, sophomore Cody Moffett and freshman Bobby Dalbec pitched. In the bottom of the eighth inning Dalbec allowed a homer from junior Shaun Chase, giving the Ducks (34-13, 13-8) the 5-0 lead. In the final inning, junior Tyler Krause hit his fourth double of the season to try to get a rally started for Arizona. Oregon lost its shutout when Arizona was able to score one run before the game ended.
On Saturday, freshman Austin Grebeck hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Ducks the 7-6 victory. Dalbec took the loss for Arizona after allowing six hits and a walk in 2.1 innings. Oregon was trailing 6-2 in the bottom of the seventh due to Arizona starting pitcher sophomore Cody Hamlin’s performance on the mound. Hamlin had only allowed two runs on five hits when the seventh inning began.
Hamlin struck out the two batters to make the first two outs of the inning, but the inning quickly turned when senior Tyler Baumgartner reached base on an infield single. The game made a quick turnaround when junior Steven Packed hit a two-run home run to tie the game.
Senior pitcher James Farris took the 6-1 loss for Arizona on Friday. Farris gave up four runs on six hits in 6.1 innings. Farris also struck out eight batters and walked one. This season the senior has received five runs of support from the offense in the last 39.1 innings that he has pitched.
Arizona only has two home series left and will return to host Stanford Friday through Sunday.
—Follow Rose Aly Valenzuela @RoseAlyVal
