The Seattle University baseball team lost to the nationally-ranked Oregon Ducks, 6-1, Sunday afternoon at PK Park.
The Redhawks struck first when Doug Kincaid (Portland, Ore.) led off the top of the third inning with a ground-rule double in the right-center field gap, Seattle U's first extra-base hit of the weekend. After Kincaid advanced to third on a wild pitch, Nate Roberts (Silverdale, Wash.) drove him in with a single through the left side of the infield.
Seattle U starter Bryan Dalton (Vancouver, Wash.) struggled with his control early, hitting three Oregon batters and walking three in the first 4 1/3 innings of work. The first hit Dalton allowed was a solo home run hit to right field by Aaron Payne in the fifth inning that tied the game. Later in the inning, Ryon Healy drew a walk, Brett Thomas laced a single to center field, and Kyle Garlick drove in Healy with a double to left field, putting Oregon on top and chasing Dalton from the game.
Garrett Anderson (Kennewick, Wash.) came on in relief, but he threw a wild pitch that allowed Thomas to score, and he was pulled after walking Ryan Hambright. Evan Ewing (Spokane, Wash.) got the final out in the fifth inning, but in the sixth inning he allowed a bunt single to Vernell Warren, a triple to Payne that scored J.J. Altobelli, who reached on a fielder's choice, and a single to Aaron Jones that drove in Payne.
Oregon (41-14) added another run in the bottom of the seventh inning when pinch hitter Kevin Shepherd drew a leadoff walk, advanced all the way to third base when Jake Chutney's (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) throw to first on a bunt by Brett Hambright was not on target, and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field hit by Warren.
Oregon starter Jeff Gold pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing just five hits, three walks, and one run while striking out five Redhawk batters. For the third straight game, Thomas Thorpe came on in relief, striking out three while walking just one in 1 2/3 innings of work, and Duck closer Jimmie Sherfy struck out the side in the ninth inning.
No Seattle U player earned more than one hit as the Redhawks were held to five hits in the game. Payne led the Ducks' offense, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in.
Seattle University (22-27) returns home for the final four games of the 2012 season, starting with the rubber game of the season series against Washington Tuesday, May 22, at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue starting at 6 p.m. Live stats, audio, and video will be available through the Seattle U athletics website at www.GoSeattleU.com.