EUGENE, Ore. - Matching hardball wits with one of the nation's best teams, NM State found it tough to get anything going against 19th-ranked Oregon's pitching staff as the Aggies were limited to only three hits in a 5-0 setback to the Ducks Thursday night at PK Park.
SCORING PLAYS
B3 | Aggie starter Sammy Natera was hanging zeroes on the board through the first two frames, but the nationally-ranked Ducks were able to get to the left-hander in the third. Natera issued a walk to lead off the frame before a double from leadoff man Tanner Smith put two in scoring position. After Natera recorded an out, Kenyon Yovan drove a two-run double to left to put the home team up for good. Gabe Matthews pushed another run across with a sacrifice fly to make matters 3-0, but Tommy Tabak was able to end the frame by doubling up the runner at second.
B4 | Another walk led to the fourth run for the Ducks. Natera was pulled from the game in favor of Frank Dickson Jr., after starting the frame with a five-pitch base-on-balls. Dickson Jr., managed to get the first two outs of the fourth, but Smith struck for an RBI double which made the Aggies' deficit 4-0.
B8 | Oregon's third extra-base hit extended the home team's lead to 5-0. Matthews launched a 1-0 offering from NM State relief arm Hayden Johns out beyond the fence in left center.
AT THE DISH
• Hits were at a premium all night, and for the Aggies Ethan Mann delivered two of his team's three.
• Jason Bush reached base twice, too, drawing two of NM State's six walks in the series opener.
• Smith went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles to lead the Ducks. He reached base a total of three times on the night, drawing one of Oregon's six walks. Two of those six walks led to runs for the Ducks.
• Matthew drove in a pair of runs on a single hit as did Yovan. All four of Oregon's hits went for extra-bases as the Ducks started their eight-game home stand with a victory.
ON THE HILL
• Natera (0-2) was saddled with the loss after giving up four of the Ducks' five runs on two hits and six walks.
• Frank Dickson Jr., came on for NM State in the fourth and fired three frames of scoreless relief. The lefty let up just a single hit and allowed three Ducks to reach base.
• Four Oregon arms strolled up to the hill and RJ Gordon (2-0) got credit for the win. He slung three innings of scoreless baseball, giving up two of NM State's three hits and a pair of walks through that span.
COMING UP NEXT
• Game two of the four-game set between the Aggies and Ducks is set for 5:00 p.,m. Friday evening from PK Park. Senior right-hander Chris Jefferson, the nation's leader in complete games, will get the ball for NM State as it goes gunning for its first triumph over a ranked opponent since 2005.
++NM State+
