A four run first inning sent Oregon on its way to a 6-2 victory over the Washington Huskies in the 2010 home opener Tuesday evening at PK Park.
Alex Keudell picked up his second win of the young season, scattering six hits while striking out six and yielding three walks.
The Ducks got off to a quick start in their first appearance at newly completed PK Park. Lead off hitter KC Serna banged a clean single into left to get things started. Second baseman Danny Pulfer followed with a perfectly executed bunt for a base hit, moving Serna into scoring position.
Jack Marder's sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base then designated hitter Nick Wagner laced a single to left, scoring both Serna and Pulfer. Another bunt single by freshman third baseman J.J. Altobelli advanced Wagner to second then a single to left by catcher Eddy Rodriguez loaded the bases.
Andrew Mendenhall drew a walk to force in Wagner and with the bases still loaded, first baseman Shawn Peterson's single up the middle scored the innings fourth run. More damage was averted when Washington pitcher Ben Guidos coaxed Oregon centerfielder Jett Hart into a double play to end the inning.
Given the early cushion, Keudell cruised through the second and third innings striking out the last batter to end both innings.
Washington miscues helped Oregon get another run in the third. Back to back errors put runners on second and third for the Ducks with one out. Peterson's sacrifice fly to left plated Rodriguez for his second RBI to push Oregon's lead to 5-0.
The Huskies bounced back with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. After Pierce Rankin started the inning off with a double, Oregon's Keudell gave up a walk and a hit batter to load the bases with no out. Jacob Lamb's single drove in one to get Washington on the scoreboard then Sean Meehan's single to center plated another. With the bases still loaded and still nobody out, Keudell escaped further damage with a strike out of David Bentrott, then enticed lead off hitter Andy Smith into a ground ball to shortstop that KC Serna converted into an inning ending double play.
Oregon added a run in the seventh on a run and a hit and with a 6-0 lead, Keudell gave way to reliever Joey Housey who handcuffed the Huskies over the final two innings, striking out three and not allowing a baserunner.
"I'm happy for a lot of reasons," said head coach George Horton of the 2010 home debut. "I was happy with our bunting game and the hitters stayed behind the baseball very good. Guidos, their pitcher pitched very effectively against us last year and I thought we had a better plan and a more experienced plan and did enough things to put a crooked number up there and make it successful."
"I was happy with the overall at bats . putting the ball in play. The bunting game is a big part of our offense and we did a good job with that tonight."
"It's always good to get the first ?W' on the first home game," offered Serna. "(It was a) lot of fun today."
""I think we played a great game all the way through the nine innings."
The Ducks face the Huskies in the second of the two game set Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 pm.
