In the Eugene Regional’s nightcap, the #1 seed Oregon Ducks squared off against the #4 seed South Dakota State Jackrabbits at PK Park in Eugene, Ore.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, with runners at first and second, Oregon first baseman Ryon Healy roped a double to the left field gap giving Oregon a 3-2 lead and eventually a opening night victory.
“Somsen hit Aaron Payne with a breaking ball, so I had a feeling he wasn’t very confident in his breaking ball, said Healy. “He made a mistake with a fastball middle-in and I was able to get a good swing on it. I was walking into second base, you don’t hear much, but you can see everyone jumping around. It was pretty surreal.”
NCBWA Stopper of the Year candidate Jimmie Sherfy struck out the first Jackrabbit in the bottom of the ninth, before walking left fielder Paul Jacobson.
With the tying run at second and two outs, first baseman Aaron Machbitz grounded out to shortstop to end the game.
“We are elated that we were able to come through, said Oregon head coach George Horton. A walk and a hit batter. Then Ryon Healy comes through again.”
South Dakota State got on the board first in the top of the second inning, when designated hitter Daniel Telford led off with a single to center field.
After making his way around the diamond to third, Telford scored on a two-out RBI single by Machbitz, giving the Jackrabbits a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, Telford again led off with a solid single to center.
With two outs and Telford at third base, Oregon third baseman Ryan Hambright charged a slow roller, but had the ball trickle off his glove giving South Dakota State a 2-0 lead.
Oregon pulled within one in the bottom of the fifth inning, after a two-base error allowed center fielder Conner Hoffman to reach second base.
Hoffman then stole third, and later scored on a wild pitch by South Dakota State starter Layne Somsen.
Somsen pitched well as the senior finished with seven innings pitched, two runs, three walks, and six strike outs.
In the eighth, after a leadoff walk to Brett Thomas, Somsen hit second baseman Aaron Payne with a breaking ball.
Healy did the rest and delivered with only Oregon’s second hit of the game.
Oregon will play Rice at 6:00 p.m. PT tomorrow night, while South Dakota State takes on San Francisco at 2:00 p.m. PT
1 comment
The article about the Oregon SDSU game is incorrect. Somsen left the game after the first batter of the 8th inning. He gave up 1 unearned run earlier in the game.
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