Oregon got a strong 6-1 win behind freshman pitcher Cole Irvin in the third and final game of their series against Loyola Marymount to win the series 2-1 and improve to 6-1 on the year.
Irvin, who was in command for the majority of the game, hit a rough patch in the fourth inning when he loaded the bases. After getting the first batter out, Irvin gave up three consecutive singles, allowing one run to score. After the run, coach George Horton went to the mound. After the conference, Tommy Cheek of LMU hit a line drive that Irvin fielded, then threw him out at first.
“I didn’t really change anything,” Irvin said of getting out of the fourth inning. “I just kept throwing strikes. They just hit good pitches and there isn’t anything I can do about that.”
Irvin battled out of the fourth and went on to pitch eight solid innings, giving up just one run on six hits with three strike outs in what was just his second collegiate start.
“I was asked to go out again in the eighth and I said, ‘Yeah, I feel good, I feel strong,” Irvin said. “I didn’t know what my pitch count was, I really don’t care, but the whole point was to throw strikes and leave it to Jimmie in the ninth.”
Turning Point. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Aaron Payne led off with a walk. Heineman then hit a ground ball to short, but LMU tallied an error trying to throw Payne out at second. Brett Thomas then bunted to advance both runners, then Ryon Healy was intentionally walked to load the bases. Tyler Baumgartner, a junior college transfer who got his second start Sunday, hit a long 3 RBI double to left field, his first hit, giving the Ducks the lead.
“It felt great,” Baumgartner said. “First collegiate hit, but good timing, you know.”
The hit came on a 3-2 count with the bases loaded and two outs while the Ducks were down 1-0.
“Yeah, there was a little pressure,” Baumgartner said of the at bat. “The crowd was there, pretty loud, pretty packed house. I took him to a good count my first two at bats, took him to 3-2, so I kinda got familiar with the pitcher and what his tendencies were, so I was pretty confident.”
The next batter was freshman Nick Catalano, who pinch hit for Steven Packard. Catalano hit a double to score Baumgartner. The Ducks have taken advantage of rarities so far this season, such as five hit by pitches and two walks on Saturday to win a game 6-1 when they only got two hits, but back-to-back doubles from two unexperienced players in pressure spots is rare for even them.
“Tyler having a good at bat there and hitting the double to kinda break loose was very significant,” Horton said. “Catalano coming off the bench … we preach and ask these guys to have the fortitude to stick with it and be ready when an opportunity presents itself, its pretty much the definition of that when Catalano takes his first at bat and does such a great job.”
Sherfy came in in the ninth and was a little shaky to start, giving up three straight singles and loading the bases before getting out of the inning. He finished with two K’s and three hits.
On the Horizon. The Ducks will take on Portland on Tuesday at PK Park. With Christian Jones getting to rest in Sunday’s game, coach Horton will try him as a starter against Portland. Horton says he will be on a pitch count of about 60 pitches in his first start and after that, hopes to move him into the regular rotation. With Jones starting, Tommy Thorpe will likely be moved into the set up role where he saw success last season.
The game will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday night at PK Park.