EUGENE, Ore. — One thing Arkansas-Pine Bluff can do is hang with the big-name teams in baseball. The only thing it has yet to do is beat one.
Again, UAPB came close Monday.
Eighth-ranked Oregon broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly and struck out seven Golden Lions to cap a 3-2 victory Monday night at PK Park. It’s the second time this season UAPB (6-29-1) lost to a ranked team by one run — then-No. 16 Oklahoma won 5-4 on March 7 — and the fourth loss by two or fewer runs to a team from a Power-Six Conference. Oregon is a member of the Pac-12.
It’s also the fifth consecutive defeat for the Lions, who went 0-4 in a four-day stay in the Beaver State.
UAPB scored two runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to tie the game. Jacob Whitney batted in Christian Weeber on an RBI groundout, and Cody DeMera singled James Boulware across the plate for the tie.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
After a walk, stolen base and sac fly, the Ducks (25-10) had runners on first and third when Kyle Garlick hit a go-ahead sac fly.
Ducks starter Jeff Gold (5-2) left the game after the seventh with five hits allowed and three strikeouts on 99 pitches (69 strikes). Thomas Thorpe and Jimmie Sherfy pitched the eighth and ninth, each striking out the side to slam the door on the Lions. Sherfy was credited with the save.
Brett Schweiger gave up two runs on five hits, walked four and struck out three for the Lions. Stanten Jones gave up the RBI sac fly, but struck out two and walked four in 2 2/3 innings.
Sean Samsa hit 2 of 4 to lead UAPB. Weeber, Tyler Hill and DeMera each added a hit for the Lions.
Each team had five hits and no errors. The Ducks also scored a run each in the third and fourth innings.
SUNDAY
Oregon State 16, UAPB 1
CORVALLIS, Ore. — The Beavers finished a sweep of the Lions thanks in part to Michael Conforto’s 4-for-4 hitting with four RBIs.
UAPB was held to two hits, one each for Eddie Williams and Boulware. The Lions scored in the fifth inning to break the Beavers’ 10-0 start.
Michael Newby (1-6) allowed nine hits and eight runs in three innings for the loss.