Breaking Hearts, Crushing Dreams, and Taking Numbers. Oregon Ducks Baseball Team Hands UCLA First Se
In the final Home series of the 2015 regular season, the Oregon Ducks would take on the mighty UCLA Bruins; who sit atop the Pac 12 and had yet to lose a series in conference play this season. The Ducks team this year has been about as predictable as weather, with many individuals writing this season off as a disappointment altogether. But, over the last month, the Ducks have caught fire and in the final home series the team had big hopes for postseason play.
The UCLA Bruins, on the other hand, have been arguably the best team in all of college baseball. As the Bruins sit at number two in the power rankings and look to keep its perfect record in Pac -12 series alive. But, with Oregon’s back against the wall, and all chance of postseason play hanging in the balances, the Ducks would fight with all its might in the final home series of the season.
In game one, the Ducks would get an early home run to left field by Scott Heineman to take and early 1-0 lead on the Bruins. But, the Bruins would answer at the top of the third, recording three runs off Oregon pitcher, Cole Irvin. Oregon found life in the eighth inning, getting a two-run single from Tim Susnara. After the Bruins took a one run lead at the top off the ninth, they called apone Stephen Nogosek to close the game out and secure the win for the Bruins.
The scrappiness shown by the Ducks in the first game would carry over in game two. The Bruins and Ducks would need extra innings to finish this game.. At the bottom of the 10th, the Ducks Mitchell Tolman would seem to have scored the winning run after a sacrifice fly by Kyle Kasser. But, Tolman would be ruled to have left third too early, thus continuing the game. At the bottom of the 11th, Craig-St. Louis would single allowing Shaun Chase to score the walk off run sending this series into a rubber match on Sunday, at PK park.
Extra innings would be needed again as the Oregon ducks fought to keep the team’s postseason hopes alive. Pitcher Josh Graham would be huge for the Ducks, recording 11 strikeouts, a season high, and helping extend the game to extra innings. At the Bottom of the 11th, the Ducks would shock the world and get an RBI single from Tim Susnara, thus keeping the hope of postseason baseball alive in Eugene.
Although this is a disappointing lose for the Bruins, the team’s postseason future is set as the Bruins hope to shake off this hiccup . As for the Ducks, the team’s fate is in the hands of the comity. Hopefully this impressive game can get the Ducks selected for post season this Monday, May 25th.
Photo by: Stephanie Lovell/DuckTv
