The Seattle University baseball team could not overcome early deficits in either end of Saturday's doubleheader, as the Oregon Ducks earned 7-3 and 4-0 victories at PK Park to extend their winning streak to seven games.
In the first game, Oregon (12-5) scored first in the bottom of the third inning when J.J. Altobelli singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a single by KC Serna. Jack Marder and Eddie Rodriguez led off the fourth inning with back-to-back singles and eventually came around to score to increase Oregon's lead to 3-0.
With two outs in the top of the fifth inning, Riley Tompkins (Lynnwood, Wash.) doubled down the right field line and scored on a single by Steve Kirbach (Kirkland, Wash.). The Ducks broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth with three runs, including a steal of home by Jett Hart and an RBI single by Rodriguez that scored Danny Pulfer.
With two outs in the seventh inning, Doug Buser (Orinda, Calif.) stole second base and scored on a single by Cullen Hendrickson (Auburn, Wash.). After Oregon answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the seventh, SeattleU scored one more run in the ninth when Sean Narby (Auburn, Wash.) doubled down the left field line and scored on a single by Buser.
Hendrickson continues to be the leading hitter for the Redhawks, going 3-for-5 in this game, while Kirbach had a 2-for-4 performance. Five Oregon players enjoyed multiple-hit games, led by Rodriguez's 3-for-3 effort.
Zack Thornton earned the victory for Oregon, pitching 7 2/3 innings and allowing seven hits and two runs while striking out 10 batters. Conor Spink (Eagle River, Alaska) took the loss for SeattleU, giving up nine hits and six runs in five innings of work. Cody Goodfellow (Tacoma, Wash.) came on in relief and allowed four hits and one run in three innings on the mound.
Oregon started game two with back-to-back singles in the first inning by Pulfer and Marcus Piazzisi, followed by a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up 90 feet and a single by Rodriguez that drove in both Ducks. The home team also scored single runs in the second and third innings to extend the advantage.
SeattleU earned only four hits in the seven-inning contest, with two of them coming from Narby. Arlo Evasick (Chimacum, Wash.) picked up the loss despite throwing a complete game, giving up seven hits and four runs in six innings. Oregon starter Justin LaTempa also stayed in the game for six innings, giving up four hits while walking one and striking out four.
Seattle University (2-11) will look to salvage the final game of the weekend series tomorrow, March 14, at 1 p.m. in a game that will be televised by Comcast Sportsnet Northwest. The Redhawks will return home for a four-game series against Cal State Northridge next weekend, beginning with a single game Friday, March 19, at 6 p.m. at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue.