LOS ANGELES — No. 16 Oregon took advantage of six USC errors, including four in a six-run eighth inning that gave the Ducks an 8-4 victory Saturday afternoon at Dedeaux Field.
The Trojans (7-11, 0-2) took a 4-2 lead with a four-run sixth inning. Adam Landecker hit a sacrifice fly to get USC on the scoreboard. A walk and four straight singles scored three runs. After a seven-pitch seventh inning by starter Wyatt Strahan, the Trojans went to Nigel Nootbaar and that’s when things fell apart.
Nootbaar walked the leadoff hitter. After a groundout, back-to-back singles and a throwing error scored a run and put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. An error by shortstop Blake Lacey tied the game. An error by Nootbaar loaded the bases for Scott Heineman, who hit one off the right field wall for a two-run double. The Ducks (15-5, 2-0) tacked on two more with a sac fly and a Ryon Healy RBI single.
Oregon scored six runs on five hits and four errors and never looked back as Garrett Cleavinger and Jimmie Sherfy each pitched a 1-2-3 inning to close out the game.
Strahan was in line for the win after he pitched seven innings, allowing two runs, also unearned, on six hits and four walks. USC’s Bobby Stahal had three hits in his first career collegiate start while Heineman finished three for six with two runs and two RBI.
Check out the 21-shot photo gallery from Saturday’s matchup:
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