Hot bats power Arizona to win over Oregon in Pac-12 Tournament opener
The first-ever Pac-12 Baseball Tournament games goes to Arizona.
The Wildcats used three home runs to power past the Oregon Ducks 8-6 in the opening game of the inaugural Pac-12 Tournament on Wednesday.
With the win, the Wildcats move on in the winners bracket and will play the winner of the Stanford/Arizona State game on Thursday at 4:45 p.m. PT.
Arizona built leads of 3-0 and 4-2 before the Ducks grabbed a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth. A bases-loaded hit batter and a sac fly from Chase Davis in the top of the seventh gave Arizona the lead back. And it didn’t change hands again.
Daniel Susac blasted two home runs on the day, the second of which was a two-run shot over the bullpen in left field to give Arizona much-needed insurance in the top of the ninth. Oregon plated a run in the ninth, but it couldn’t draw even.
Starting pitcher Dawson Netz, making his first start since April 12, worked two and two-third innings for the Cats and allowed just two runs on two hits. He did not factor into the decision.
Arizona’s bullpen helped secure the win from then on, with left-handers Javyn Pimental (one and a third inning) and Eric Orloff (two-thirds of an inning), along with right-hander Quinn Flanagan (two innings) all working scoreless outings. Right-hander Trevor Long pitched the ninth inning for the Wildcats and earned his sixth save of the season.
Orloff picked up the win for Arizona, moving him to 2-2 this season. RJ Gordon (4-3) was given the loss after pitching two and two-thirds innings while giving up four hits and two earned runs.
The Ducks will take on the loser of Wednesday’s Stanford-Arizona State game in an elimination game Thursday at 9 a.m. PT.
Arizona moved to 36-21 with the win. Oregon dropped to 35-22.