April 13, 2012
STANFORD, Calif.-- No. 10-ranked Oregon (23-9, 9-4 Pac-12) took advantage of four Stanford errors, leading to four unearned runs to win the series opener 4-1 in 10 innings over No. 5-ranked Cardinal (22-7, 4-6 Pac-12).
In a game that saw both starters go nine innings, the game was decided in extra innings against Stephen Piscotty (2-1) who started the tenth after playing the first nine innings at third base.
Piscotty also had three hits and drove in two, but three errors and a wild pitch in the tenth gave Oregon a 4-1 lead. Austin Wilson allowed the first runner to reach after dropping a popup in right. After moving to third on a sacrifice, Kyle Garlick scored on a Piscotty throw over first. Garlick initially was holding at first on the bunt single, but instead made it 2-1.
Two runs then scored on a Piscotty wild pitch and throwing error by catcher Eric Smith, who was trying to keep the runner close at third, making it 4-1.
Jimmie Sherfy converted his eighth save for Alex Keudell (5-3), who went his own 9.0 innings, giving up one run on five hits. He struck out seven for the win.
Sherfy made it interesting in the tenth, loading the bases with no outs, before a Piscotty two-out single made it 4-2.
Stanford starter Mark Appel finished his night with two of his 13 strikeouts in a 1-1 game in the ninth. He gave up an unearned run on 10 hits, walking two, leaving with his second nine inning no-decision.
Oregon loaded the bases with no outs in a 1-1 game in the eighth with two singles and a walk. Appel got his 11th strikeout followed by a popup, before JJ Altobelli popped out to third to end the threat.
Appel also worked his magic in the earlier innings to keep the Ducks off the scoreboard after an unearned run in the first.
Appel kept the Ducks from scoring in the third following a leadoff triple. He got a strikeout and grounder to first to keep in at 1-0. Two strikeouts stranded Ducks at first and second in the fifth, before a perfect sixth kept it at 1-0, before Piscotty tied it in the sixth with an RBI double.
Oregon went up 1-0 in the first off an RBI single from Ryon Healy. With two outs, a two-base error, put Aaron Jones at second. Healy then sent a ball up the middle for the first run of the game.
NOTES: Brian Ragira's 13-game hit streak ended with an 0-for-5 day... It was the fourth time this season Appel has reached 10 strikeouts in a game (eight starts)... Oregon's original third baseman Scott Heieman was scratched from the original lineup and rightfielder Aaron Jones left the game in the fourth after diving for a ball in the third... Members of the Stanford Men's Basketball team, winners of the NIT, threw out the ceremonial first pitch... catcher Eric Smith was added to the watch list for the Johnny Bench Award... Saturday's game is at 1 p.m. and Sunday's game is at noon.