Washington roars back to snare first game of weekend series from Ducks

SEATTLE, Wash. — The No. 24 Oregon Ducks dropped the first game of this weekend's three-game series to the Washington Huskies on Friday night. Three early three homers weren't enough as Washington tagged RJ Gordon for six runs before adding the go-ahead in the seventh for a come-from-behind 7-6 Husky victory.

Both offenses started slow as starters Gordon and Washington's Max Fraser traded scoreless frames across the first two innings with Gordon picking up two strikeouts and Fraser striking out four.

The Oregon (32-16, 14-11) offense woke up in the third thanks to Maddox Molony's eighth home run of the season, adding to his record for Oregon freshman. Bryce Boettcher quickly followed after the lineup card flipped back, sending a double into the right-center gap before coming home when Mason Neville crushed a homer of his own over the right-field fence.

After another scoreless inning from Gordon, the Ducks kept their momentum going in the top of the fourth. Bennett Thompson led off the inning by roping a ball down the right-field line for a double and Jeffery Heard drove a ball up the middle to bring him home. Drew Smith immediately added another run, sending his third home run of the season over the left-field fence.

The Huskies (19-23-1, 10-15) finally got to Gordon in the bottom of the fourth. AJ Guerrero led off the inning with a single that was quickly followed by a two-run shot off the bat of Jeter Ybarra, cutting Oregon's lead to four. Gordon then walked the next two batters on nine pitches before finally picking up the first out on his third strikeout of the night.

Washington then added a pair of singles, bringing home two more runs to cut the Oregon lead to two. A wild pitch caught the runner at first in a pickle after the runner at second decided not to advance, giving the Ducks out No. 2. Aiva Arquette sent a shot out toward the left-center gap that the crowd seemed to think was gone, but Neville was able to track it down, ending the inning before the Huskies could do any more damage.

Oregon's offense went down quietly in the fifth but had an opportunity to add to their lead the next inning. Smith drove a single through the left side that was quickly followed by a pair of pop-ups for outs one and two. Carter Garate just pushed a ball past a diving first baseman into the right-field corner, giving the Ducks two runners in scoring position. Unfortunately, they couldn't capitalize as Boettcher popped out to second to end the inning.

Head coach Mark Wasikowski decided to stick with Gordon in the sixth but the Huskies quickly proved that was the wrong decision with a walk and a homer to tie the game at six runs apiece.

After the Ducks were sat down in order in the top of the seventh, Ryan Featherston entered in relief of Gordon for the bottom half of the inning. Three consecutive singles gave Washington its first lead of the game, but Featherson managed to work his way out of the jam, picking up two strikeouts and a foul pop-up to end the inning.

Oregon led off the eighth with back-to-back walks by Heard and Smith — after just one pitch, Cassella flew out weakly to left field, ending the inning and the Ducks' rally before any runs could come across to score.

Wasikowski went to Bradley Mullan for the bottom of the eighth where the lefty quickly sat down the Huskies with two slickly-fielded grounders by Molony and Brooks and a strikeout.

Down to their final three outs, Oregon needed at least one run in the top of the ninth to keep the game alive. Boettcher went down swinging to lead off the inning before Neville flew out to foul territory in left, bringing Walsh up to the plate. On the first pitch, Walsh skied a ball toward left field. The ball looked like it might have a chance to go but as it hung in the air, the Husky outfielder settled under it, making the catch at the warning track to end the game.

The series continues on Saturday with first pitch set for 5:05 PM. Grayson Grinsell will get the start as the Ducks look to even the series at one game apiece.