With the sun setting at PK Park and two top-20 teams going at it in a Big Ten showdown, Oregon’s Grayson Grinsell (6-1) delivered an absolute masterclass. The junior left-handed pitcher closed out a complete game on Friday night, finishing with seven strikeouts while allowing just two hits and one earned run.
In the opener of a three game series in Eugene, Oregonc, No.10 UCLA (28-9, 12-4) came up short in a bitter 2-1 loss to No.16 Oregon (26-10, 13-6). Despite a strong showing on the mound, holding the Ducks to just two earned runs, the Bruins offense was never able to heat up. UCLA has posted nine consecutive winning weekends and will need to bounce back in the following two games to keep their streak alive.
After a scoreless first two innings, Oregon’s Ryan Cooney kicked things off for the Ducks, hitting a single to left field in the bottom of the third. Soon after, Cooney stole second, paving a path for designated hitter Dominic Hellman who drove a RBI single to left field giving the Ducks an early 1-0 lead.
Both offenses went quiet throughout the fourth and fifth innings, with Oregon only recording one hit and UCLA going hitless. UCLA’s starting pitcher, Wylan Moss (1-1) threw his final pitch of the day in the fifth, putting up a solid performance giving up just one earned run.
As the Bruins’ relieving pitcher, Chris Grothues, stepped onto the mound in the bottom of the following inning, Hellman handed him a warm welcome by launching a solo no-doubter to left center to extend the Duck’s lead to twoc. Hellman led the Ducks’ offense on Friday night, finishing with two hits, two RBI’s and a home run.
UCLA finally found an offensive spark in the top of the seventh when star hitter Roch Cholowsky blasted a solo moonshot to left field, hyping up the Bruins’ dugout. Nonetheless, their spirit was quickly crushed as Grinsell closed out the rest of the inning and the following two innings without giving up another hit, sealing the 2-1 victory for the Ducks.
Currently, UCLA is one spot ahead of Oregon in the Big Ten standings, making this a pivotal series for both teams. The Bruins will look to regain their footing at PK Park on Saturday and Sunday, with first pitch for both games set for 2:05 p.m.
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Featured Image Photographed by Catherine Rodriguez/BruinLife
