April 28, 2013
Box Score
EUGENE, Ore. - Justin Ringo belted a solo home run in the eighth to put Stanford ahead, 3-2, but Oregon responded with a two-run ninth highlighted by a walk-off squeeze bunt to complete a sweep of the Cardinal at PK Park. With the 4-3 win Sunday, Oregon earned its fourth straight Pac-12 Conference baseball sweep while handing No. 14 Stanford its first such setback on the season.
Following Ringo's third home run in five games, No. 7 Oregon (33-10 overall, 16-5 Pac-12) left the bases loaded in its half of the eighth and got runners on second and third in the ninth. Mitchell Tolman laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Aaron Payne from third for Oregon's second walk-off victory over the Cardinal in the three-game series.
A one-out double over third base by Ryon Healy scored the tying run.
Stanford (23-15, 9-9) dug itself out of a 2-0 hole to take the lead before suffering its second sweep on the season and the first by a Pac-12 opponent since a three-game set at Arizona in 2012.
Ringo scored twice and Brian Ragira paced Stanford with two hits and a pair of RBI.
In his first career start, Daniel Starwalt held his own by limiting the Ducks two three hits and one earned run in 5.1 innings.
Starwalt was the fifth freshman pitcher to start this season for the Cardinal.
Starwalt issued a leadoff walk which Oregon manufactured into a 1-0 lead without recording a hit. It was Starwalt's only walk on the day.
Oregon starter Jake Reed faced the minimum until the fourth, when Ragira shot a two-out single over shortstop J.J. Altobelli.
The first strikeout for Starwalt came in the fifth. With two outs, Brett Thomas drove home Josh Graham from second as the Ducks built a 2-0 lead. Graham reached on a leadoff error.
Lonnie Kauppila reached on a fielder's choice and was joined by Ringo in the sixth after the designated hitter reached on catcher's interference.
Both runners moved ahead on an Austin Slater groundout.
Stanford capitalized with Ragira's two-out single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2.
Ringo has reached base four times this season on catcher's interference.
A sixth-inning routine infield popup turned into an error when Starwalt collided with catcher Wayne Taylor. Oregon turned to its small ball and moved Healy to second with a sacrifice bunt and Starwalt plunked Scott Heineman to put two on base.
Garrett Hughes trotted out from the bullpen and got Stanford out of the jam with a flyout and strikeout.
Oregon managed to load the bases with two out in the eighth. Hughes navigated his way through the storm to fan pinch hitter Nick Catalano.
Hughes struck out one in the ninth. Sam Lindquist (1-1) was charged with the loss without recording an out after relieving Hughes.
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