Ducks Shut Out In Corvallis

CORVALLIS, Ore. – With the Pac-12 title on the line, fifth-ranked Oregon was swept for the first time this season as the Ducks were shut out in a 5-0 loss to No. 23 Oregon State at Goss Stadium on Sunday.

With the loss, and wins by Arizona and UCLA, the Ducks (42-17, 19-11) finish the 2012 season third in the Pac-12 standings while the Wildcats and Bruins are co-league champions.

Before the series finale started, Oregon was selected as one of 16 programs to host a four-team NCAA Regional next weekend at PK Park beginning on Friday. The NCAA will announce the complete 64-team bracket and seedings in a one-hour broadcast beginning at 9 a.m. Monday on ESPNU. Oregon is one of two teams, the other Purdue, hosting an NCAA Regional for the first time.

Oregon baseball last hosted a postseason event when the District 8 playoffs were played at Howe Field. The Ducks defeated Seattle, 9-4, and Fresno State, 9-5, and 1-0 for the right to move on to the 1954 College World Series.

Oregon‘s leadoff batter reached bas six times during Sunday’s finale, but the Ducks failed to push a run across, stranding a total of seven runners, while the Oregon State defense helped by turning three double plays.

Senior right-hander Taylor Starr improved to 5-2 on the year shutting out the Ducks on seven hits in six and 1/3 innings while striking out three.

Scott Schultz closed the game for the Beavers, tossing two and 2/3 shutout innings and allowing just one hit.

Jeff Gold’s (8-4) four-inning start was the shortest of his career at Oregon. The sophomore allowed two runs on three hits, three walks and three hit batters in the loss.

Oregon State (38-18, 18-12) had a 2-0 lead after the game’s first three innings as two plunked batters turned into two runs. In the first, after being plunked, Joey Matthews moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on Michael Conforto’s RBI single into right field. In the third, Conforto drove Matthews home from first with a RBI double down the right field line.

The Beavers put the game out of reach by adding three runs in the seventh courtesy of a Ryan Dunn RBI single and Kavin Keyes’s two-run single to center field.

In relief, Tommy Thorpe allowed two runs in two and 2/3 innings, while Jimmie Sherfy allowed a run in one and 1/3 innings.

Kyle Garlick led the Ducks with a 2-for-3 effort and was walked once while Ryon Healy batted 2-for-4 with a double.

Notes: The Ducks third-place Pac-12 finish is UO’s best since the program was reinstated…Oregon has a 13-7 record against ranked teams in 2012…Oregon was swept for the first time since losing three to UCLA at PK Park from May 6-8, 2011…the Ducks were shut out for the second time in 2012 and the first since a 5-0 loss at Washington on March 17, 2012…Oregon’s three-game losing matches its longest of the season.