Record-setting Saturday sends Ducks to Regional semis, but Louisville too much to handle
Oregon’s offense was hotter than fish grease in a Saturday win over Southeast Missouri State, but No. 12 seed Louisville, the regional host, proved too much to handle on Sunday.
The Cardinals knocked out the Ducks with an 8-5 win Sunday afternoon. Jace Stoffal took the loss (1-3) after four innings of work. Oregon was within just one run after the fifth inning, and used a three-run eighth to stay within two going into the final frame, but couldn’t corral the Louisville sluggers.
On Saturday, every Duck starter collected at least one hit as Oregon combined for 26 to score 18 runs. The 26 hits broke a program record and set a new Pac-12 record for hits in a postseason game.
Setting our own pace.
Today's performance broke the school record for hits in a game 𝘈𝘕𝘋 the Pac-12 record for hits in a postseason game. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/zjhPhpiyBG
— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) June 4, 2022
Seven Ducks recorded multiple hits on the day, led by Brennan Milone’s career-high five and Josiah Cromwick’s career-best four. Milone went 5-for-6 at the plate on the heels of Friday’s three-hit game. He went 8-for-11 with two home runs, two doubles, four RBI and four runs scored through the first two games of the regional tournament.
Milone was held more in-check on Sunday, going just 1-for-4 at the plate with a run scored. Cromwick was held hitless in four appearances. The Ducks had just nine hits, led by Colby Shade’s 2-for-3 day. He finished with a double and two runs scored.
Louisville’s pitching staff combined for six punch-outs while allowing five earned.
Oregon hit into a double play to end the sixth, went down in order in the seventh, and then went down in order to end the game, with the last two batters striking out. A three-run, four-hit eighth gave some life.
Two walks and a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth helped load the bases for Louisville as it looked to extend what was a 7-5 lead. RJ Gordon entered the game for Oregon with runners on second and third and none away. Louisville singled off him to bring home the runner on third, but a fly-out ended the inning with minimal damage.
Oregon needed three to force extras, but couldn’t muster a base-runner in the final frame.
The season comes to an end at 36-25.