Live updates: Oregon vs. Utah series opener
The Oregon Ducks will look to get back on track this evening when they face Utah in Salt Lake to kick off the final series of the regular season.
The Ducks (31-19, 14-13 Pac-12) are 1-6 in the month of May and are coming off an ugly series sweep at the hands of Washington. Utah, meanwhile, sits in last place in the conference at 8-18-1.
With the injury status of ace right-hander Jace Stoffal still uncertain, Oregon will turn to junior righty Logan Mercado Thursday against the Utes.
Follow along throughout the evening for live updates.
Final: Utah 12, Oregon 5
Ninth inning
T9
Oregon’s No. 9 hitter, Gavin Grant, drew a leadoff walk to open the inning. But Rikku Nishida, Colby Shade, and Drew Cowlet were retired in order to end the game.
Eighth inning
B8
Utah tacked on another run in the eighth after Landon Frei scored on a fielding error to give the game its final score.
T8
Oregon leadoff man Drew Smith drew a walk to give the Ducks some momentum early in the frame. But Tyler Ganus followed by grounding into a double play, and then Utah right fielder TJ Clarkson made an impressive replay in foul territory to end the inning.
Seventh inning
B7
Dylan McShane relieved Grayson Ginsell to start the bottom of the seventh and hit the first batter he faced with a pitch. Elijah Hammil followed with a sacrifice bunt but reached first due to a throwing error, giving Utah two on with nobody out.
McShane then hit the next batter to load the bases.
Landon Frei followed with an RBI single to make it 6-5 Utah, and Matt Flaharty added a single of his own one at-bat later to push the Utes’ lead to 7-5 with nobody out.
Ducks’ pitching coach Jake Angier pulled McShane for Ian Umlandt, who surrendered four more runs — two of which came on a two-run single from Davis Cop.
When the dust finally settled, the Ducks trailed 11-5.
T7
Colby Shade and Sabin Ceballos each laced singles for the Ducks. But both players were stranded.
Sixth inning
B6
Grayson Grinsell produced another scoreless inning in relief for Oregon to keep the game tied at 5-5.
T6
Gavin Grant drew a two-out walk but the Ducks were unable to capitalize.
Fifth inning
B5
Grayson Grisell retired the Utes in order to hold the score at 5-5.
T5
Oregon put two runners aboard, but Ni. 5 hitter Tanner Smith struck out looking to end the frame.
Fourth inning
B4
Oregon lefty Grayson Grinsell replaced Mercado midway through the fourth and stranded a runner at first to keep the game tied at 5-5.
Mercado finished with a final line of 5 runs, three earned, on 7 hits with 4 strikeouts and 3 walks in 3 1/3 innings of work. His ERA is now 7.03 on the season.
T4
All three Oregon batters struck out to end the inning.
Third inning
B3
TJ Clarkson launches a massive solo homer to lead off the bottom of the third, cutting Oregon’s lead to 5-3. Jayden Kiernan followed with a solo homer of his own to make it 5-4.
Three batters later, Landon Frei tied the game at 5-5 with a run-scoring double.
T3
Drew Cowley ripped his 55th RBI of the season to push Oregon’s lead to 4-2. He later scored on an errant pickoff attempt to make it 5-2.
Second inning
B2
Mercado strands a runner at third to hold Oregon’s lead at 3-2.
T2
Drew Smith gives Oregon a 3-2 lead with a three-run homer — his second of the year.
First inning
B1
Utah opened the scoring with an RBI single from Jayden Kiernan to take a 1-0 lead. Then, Utes pushed their lead to 2-0 when Davis Cop slid under Josiah Cromwick’s tag to steal home.
T1
Oregon goes down in order in the opening frame after Utah right fielder TJ Clarkson robbed Drew Cowley of a hit with a great catch.
Pregame
Oregon starting lineup
Utah starting lineup
