College Roundup: Ducks Hang On To Beat Rival
Last week, in the first meeting between Oregon and Oregon State this spring, Oregon erased an eight-run deficit before losing, 11-10, to Oregon State. Wednesday, as the two teams met for a rematch, it was the Ducks jumping out to a large early lead and the Beavers mounting a comeback.
| HOW THE TOP 25 FARED |
| (1) Florida: off |
| (2) Texas A&M: off |
| (3) Mississippi State: off |
| (4) Miami: off |
| (5) Florida State: off |
| (6) South Carolina: off |
| (7) Texas Christian: off |
| (8) Louisiana State: off |
| (9) Mississippi: off |
| (10) Louisville: won, 7-0, vs. Florida International |
| (11) Vanderbilt: off |
| (12) North Carolina State: off |
| (13) Texas Tech: won, 5-4, vs. Abilene Christian in Midland, Texas |
| (14) Southern Mississippi: cancelled vs. New Orleans |
| (15) Rice: off |
| (16) Michigan: off |
| (17) UC Santa Barbara: off |
| (18) Oregon State: lost, 7-6, at Oregon |
| (19) Coastal Carolina: off |
| (20) Tulane: off |
| (21) East Carolina: off |
| (22) Virginia: off |
| (23) Louisiana-Lafayette: lost, 6-3, vs. Louisiana Tech |
| (24) Minnesota: off |
| (25) Oklahoma State: cancelled vs. Arkansas-Little Rock |
After scoring seven runs in the second inning, Oregon held on for a 7-6 victory against No. 18 Oregon State. The win snapped the Ducks’ four-game losing streak.
Oregon’s big inning began with the first seven batters reaching base safely. In all, the Ducks sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning, pounding out five hits and taking advantage of three walks, a hit batter and an error.
After the second inning, the Ducks did not have a hit the rest of the game. While relievers Scotland Church and Bryce Fehmel held the Ducks at bay, the Beavers’ offense (26-11) chipped away at the deficit, eventually getting the tying run to third base with one out in the ninth. But Oregon closer Stephen Nogosek got Nick Madrigal to pop out and struck out Logan Ice, the Beavers’ most dangerous hitter, to end the game and earn his 10th save of the season.
Oregon and Oregon State will meet again in two weeks in Corvallis for their annual weekend series. Unlike the first two games between the intrastate rivals, the series will count toward the Pac-12 Conference standings.
Oregon State was not the only ranked team to lose Wednesday. Earlier in the night, Louisiana Tech pulled another midweek upset, defeating No. 23 Louisiana-Lafayette, 6-3. Louisiana Tech has won three midweek games against ranked opponents this season, knocking off ULL at home Feb. 24 and winning at Arkansas on March 2.
In their previous two wins against ranked teams, the Bulldogs (25-13) had the benefit of throwing Opening Day starter Tyler Clancy. Wednesday, however, they turned to senior Adam Derouen, junior Mark Baughman and redshirt sophomore Graham Alrich, who entered the game with a combined 5.96 ERA in 22 2/3 innings this season. But the trio held the Rajun’ Cajuns to four hits and four walks, and the Bulldogs scored four runs in the seventh inning to take control of the game. Redshirt junior outfielder Sean Ulrich (2-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBIs) delivered a key RBI double in the inning and added a solo home run in the ninth.
With the victory, Louisiana Tech equaled last season’s win total. In his second season, coach Greg Goff has the Bulldogs in fourth place in Conference USA and in position to make a late-season run at an NCAA Tournament bid, which would be their first since 1987.
Alabama State, the Southwestern Athletic Conference leader, also scored a big nonconference victory, defeating Tennessee, 3-0. The Hornets scored all their runs in the second inning, and junior righthander Angel Alicea and senior righthander Taylor Charles to shut down the Volunteers’ potent offense. Alicea (7 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K) has pitched well out of the bullpen this season, but Wednesday was his first career start. With the victory, he improved to 2-0, 0.49 in 13 appearances.
Alabama State (28-14) has won five straight games and is 18-0 in conference play. The Hornets are attempting to make their first NCAA Tournament appearance in Division I. With a sub-100 RPI, they’ll still need to win the SWAC Tournament, but wins like Wednesday’s show they will be a tough draw if they make regionals.
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