PORTLAND, Ore. — Making just his second start of the season, Michael Freund struck out a career-high seven Portland hitters to lead Oregon to a 7-4 nonconference road win over the Pilots at Joe Etzel Field on Tuesday night.
Freund picked up his first career quality start allowing just three runs (two earned) on six hits in a career-high six innings. Logan Mercado, freshman Ryan Featherston and Bradley Mullan each tossed a scoreless inning to finish the game.
How It Happened: Oregon jumped on Portland early scoring three runs with two outs in the first two innings. After the first two batters were retired in the top of the first, Jacob Walsh started a rally with a double off the left field fence. Jeffery Heard followed with a walk before Anson Aroz doubled into the right-field corner plating a pair of runners for a 2-0 Ducks lead.
Portland starter Kaden Segel set down the first two batters in the second inning, but Oregon responded again with a two-out run. Carter Garate singled to start the rally before moving to second on a passed ball and then scoring on a Bryce Boettcher RBI single.
Portland put a pair of runs on the board in the third, including one that was unearned, before the Ducks scored again. With two outs in the fifth, Heard looped a hit into center field scoring Boettcher who led off the inning with a single.
Oregon added three runs in the top of the sixth without the benefit of a hit. Bennett Thompson reached on an error to lead off the inning before moving to second on a Walsh walk and to third when Heard reached on a fielder’s choice error. Aroz then drove in another run with a sacrifice fly before a Maddox Molony hit-by-pitch and a Carter Garate walk scored two more.
Box Score Notes: The Oregon win snapped Portland’s seven game winning streak … Walsh’s first-inning double was the 37th of his career moving him within one of Drew Cowley (2022-23) and J.J. Altobelli (2010-13) for fifth all-time at Oregon … Aroz (2-for-5, 2 RBI) had his eighth career multi-hit game and sixth career multi-RBI game … Boettcher (2-for-6, R, RBI) finished with his 11th career multi-hit game … Freund made his second consecutive start on the mound after coming out of the bullpen for his first eight appearances … Outfielder Justin Cassella missed his fourth consecutive game.
On Deck: The Ducks return to Pac-12 play with a three-game series at UCLA starting Friday with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.
