SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara baseball lost 3-0 to Oregon on Sunday afternoon at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks completed the sweep of the Broncos behind clutch hitting from their number eight and nine hitters, Spencer Steer and Daniel Patzlaff.
Junior right-handed pitcher Michael Bono went the first 4.1 innings of the game without allowing a hit. However, once the Ducks broke the seal, they scored the game's only three runs in the fifth. A.J. Balta singled and then Matthew Dyer was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. After a flyout, Spencer Steer's two-out double scored Balta and Dyler. Steer then came around to score on Daniel Patzlaff's single to give Oregon a 3-0 lead.
SCU (3-12) had runners on first and second base in the top of the sixth inning, trying to answer Oregon's three-run outburst. After a single by sophomore third baseman John Cresto, senior left fielder Tyler Meditz walked to bring the tying run to the plate. But, with two outs junior right fielder Grant Meylan flied out to end the inning. SCU went 0-for-11 at the plate with runners on base and 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Oregon (11-4) left-handed pitcher Cole Stringer recorded the win as he threw 5.2 scoreless innings for the Ducks, allowing just four hits and striking out three hitters. He did walk one batter and hit two others while also throwing a wild pitch.
Kenyon Yovan earned his fifth save of the season for the Ducks although it wasn't an easy ninth inning for Yovan. After recording the first two outs, he hit freshman catcher Jake MacNichols. Sophomore second baseman Evan Haberle then reached on an error to put runners on first and second. But, freshman shortstop Austin Fisher's grounder to shortstop ended the game.
Freshman center fielder Andre Nnebe had three of the five Bronco hits on the day including a double. He now leads the team in hitting with a .365 batting average.
Up Next: Santa Clara will play one game at Stephen Schott Stadium on Tuesday at 6 p.m. PT against Connecticut.
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