EUGENE, Ore. – Senior left-hander Quinn Mathews tossed a complete game and struck out 10 batters, but No. 8 Stanford's offense managed just three hits in a 4-0 shutout loss to No. 25 Oregon on Friday from PK Park.
The loss dropped Stanford to 22-9, 10-3 in Pac-12 play, while Oregon improved to 23-8, 8-5 in the conference. The Cardinal has now been shut out twice this year, with both coming in the last nine games (last: March 31 at Oklahoma).
Oregon starter Jace Stoffal was outstanding in the victory, logging a complete-game shutout while allowing two singles to Eddie Park and one to Drew Bowser. The right-hander struck out eight and walked one while throwing 118 pitches to complete the game and move to 5-2 on the year.
Mathews also pitched well, but the long ball proved costly, as he allowed three homers that accounted for all four runs allowed. Friday marked the first time in Mathews' career that he allowed multiple home runs in a game. The native of Aliso Viejo, Calif., who dropped to 4-3 with the loss, reached double-digit strikeouts for the third consecutive start.
Colby Shade got the scoring started for Oregon in the fourth inning, connecting for a solo homer – his third round tripper of the year. The Ducks would add a two-run shot from Jacob Walsh to finish the fourth, jumping out to the 3-0 lead. The homer was Walsh's ninth of the season.
Drew Cowley put the finishing touches on the victory for the Ducks in the sixth inning, launching his sixth homer of the year over the wall in center field to run the tally to 4-0.
Stanford will look to even the series on Saturday at 2:05 p.m.
