Baseball Weekly Release: Arizona State
03/30/12 | Baseball
No. 14 Arizona State at No. 23 Oregon
• Date: Friday-Sunday, March 30-April 1
• Venue: PK Park (Eugene, Ore.)
• TV: Comcast SportsNet Northwest (Saturday & Sunday): Jerry Allen & Terry Jonz
• Radio: KUJZ 95.3 FM in Eugene/Springfield; Brian Prawitz
• Audio: O-Zone at www.GoDucks.com
• Webcast: O-Zone at www.GoDucks.com
• Live Stats: www.GoDucks.com
• Twitter: @OregonBaseball for in-game updates, stats, etc
• Facebook
THIS WEEK
Oregon returns to PK Park for its third weekend of Pac-12 play. The Ducks host 14th-ranked Arizona State beginning at 6 p.m., Friday. Both clubs have identical records of 3-3 in conference play.
RANKINGS
After beginning the season unranked, the Ducks are currently ranked in all four national polls, and rest at No. 23 in the Baseball America rankings.
Arizona State was ranked as high as 11th this year by Baseball America, and the Sun Devils are at No. 14 in this week's poll.
PROMOTIONS
As Oregon hosts No. 14 Arizona State on Friday at PK Park, the Ducks will also host a 1960s-inspired Karaoke Night. Tickets are only $6.60 if bought in advance online at www.GoDucks.com.
First pitch for game two of the series is set for 2 p.m., Saturday. Children that wear their KidSports jersey to the game will receive admission for just $1. The second set of Oregon baseball cards will also be given out on Saturday.
LAST WEEK RECAP
Oregon evened its Pac-12 record at 3-3 after taking its series, 2-1, against Utah at PK Park last weekend. The Ducks batted .286 as a team as Aaron Jones hit .667 in the series with a triple, two runs scored and two RBIs. Ryon Healy batted .333 and drove in a team-leading three runs, while the Ducks totaled four stolen bases. Oregon's pitching staff managed a 2.67 ERA as Alex Keudell and Joey Housey earned wins on the mound, and Jimmie Sherfy picked up saves on Friday and Saturday. All three starters recorded quality starts, and Brando Tessar continues to have strong outings. In his last three starts, Tessar is 1-0 with a 1.25 ERA, allowing just three runs in 21 and 2/3 innings. He has struck out 21, and is holding opposing batters to a .208 clip.
TEXAS STATE RECAP
Oregon enters this weekend on a three-game losing streak - its longest of the year - after dropping a pair of games at Texas State in San Marcos.
Oregon's pitching staff allowed 18 runs in two games as the Bobcats batted .283 in the two-game set, and drew 14 walks while hammering four home runs.
UO's bats were silent in an 11-3 loss on Tuesday night, as Aaron Jones provided most of the offense with a 3-for-4 effort and solo home run. On Wednesday, the Ducks outhit the Bobcats 11-8 as J.J. Altobelli, Brett Thomas, Thomas Walker and Connor Hofmann recorded two hits apiece, but it wasn't enough in a 7-6 defeat.
ARIZONA STATE SERIES
Arizona State leads the all-time series with Oregon, 11-2. Last year, the Ducks were swept in Tempe by then fifth-ranked ASU.
The last time the Sun Devils visited Eugene, ASU took the series 2-1, but the clubs played a memorable 12-inning marathon that ended at 12:46 AM the following morning after Marcus Piazzisi's two-out single scored J.J. Altobelli to win the game.
2012 SCHEDULE
Oregon's 2012 schedule is ranked the 17th strongest in the country according boydsworldcom, while the website rated UO's RPI at 30 .
Six teams from the Pac-12 rank in the Boyd's World Strength of Schedule top-25: Stanford (1), UCLA (3), Arizona (19), Oregon State (20) and Arizona State (25).
Currently five of Oregon's 2012 opponents are ranked in the Baseball America College Top 25 poll. In addition, 13 opponents on Oregon's schedule reached the postseason a year ago.
PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Perfect Game
Preseason All-Conference Team
UT So. Ryon Healy .320, 4HR
Top 50 Draft Prospects
28. Jr. LHP Christian Jones
(missing 2012 season with injury)
40. So. 1B/RHP Ryon Healy
47. So. RHP Jimmie Sherfy
50. So. C/OF Aaron Jones
Top 100 College Seniors
46. Sr. RHP Alex Keudell
98. RS-Jr. RHP Joey Housey
BASEBALL AMERICA
Top 50 Freshmen
23. Fr. RHP Jake Reed
26. Fr. OF Billy Flamion
HEALTH REPORT
The Ducks' starting rotation took a hit in the preseason as Oregon went from returning two starters from last year's rotation to only one - senior Alex Keudell.
Junior left-hander Christian Jones (7-2, 3.24) will miss the 2012 season with an injury.
FRESHMAN CLASS RANKING
Once again a highly-touted recruiting class joined the Oregon baseball program as the 2011 class received a No. 9 ranking from Baseball America's annual recruiting evaluations.
For the second year in a row, head coach George Horton brought in a top-10 class, and for the fourth consecutive year, Oregon has recruited a top-25 class.
A NEW LOOK
Oregon enters the 2012 season with 14 newcomers on the roster.
From the 2011 squad, the Ducks lost three position starters with shortstop KC Serna, second baseman Danny Pulfer and catcher Jack Marder all departing Eugene after being selected in the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
On the mound, Oregon has taken its biggest hit. The Ducks lost 322 and 1/3 innings of pitching, 15 wins and all 17 saves as Tyler Anderson, Madison Boer, Scott McGough and Kellen Moen were lost to the 2011 MLB Draft. Freshman Porter Clayton (0-1, 1 SV) is also missing from the 2012 roster after choosing to depart on a two-year mission.
MORE NOTES
• Last Sunday's 4-3 loss to Utah was Oregon's first defeat when leading after eight innings (11-1) in 2012. The Ducks also suffered their first loss with Brando Tessar getting the start (5-1).
• On March 17, Oregon won its 100th game since the program was reinstated, defeating Washington, 3-2, in 13 innings at Husky Ballpark.
• Oregon's 8-3 loss at Washington on March 16 snapped Oregon's seven-game road winning streak - its longest since prior to 1963 (the first season game-by-game results are available).
• Oregon's 10-game winning streak (Feb. 18-March 4) was its longest since 1969, and Oregon's 10-1 start was the best for the program since 1965.
• From Feb. 19-23, UO recorded three consecutive wins with double-digit runs for the first time since April 22-24, 1974 in wins over Portland State (10-6), Linfield (16-15) and Washington State (12-1).
• After finishing 2011 with a record of 5-12 in one-run games, the Ducks are currently 6-3 in one-run games and 3-0 in games that are decided in extra innings.
• Oregon trailed Long Beach State 5-0 on March 4, but the Ducks staged a comeback to win 8-7 on Aaron Jones' walk-off in the bottom of the eighth. It was the Ducks' first comeback from a five-run deficit since a 17-7 victory over East Tennessee State at PK Park on May 16, 2010.
• On March 10 in Oregon's 12-0 win over West Virginia, Aaron Jones hit the first Oregon grand slam at PK Park since J.J. Altobelli vs. USC (April 25, 2010).
• Brando Tessar's four-hit, nine-inning complete-game shutout in a March 11, 4-0 win over Connecticut was the first for an Oregon pitcher since Justin LaTempa vs. Washington State on May 1, 2010 at PK Park.
OFFENSIVE LOOK
In Oregon's first 15 games (12-3), the Ducks averaged 6.4 runs per game and outscored opponents 96-49. In UO's last eight games (3-5), the Ducks are averaging 3.25 runs per game, and have been outscored 26-41.
Oregon is also 6-4 this season in one-run games, and 8-5 when the opponent scores first.
SENIOR STATUS
The only returner from Oregon's 2011 starting rotation is senior Alex Keudell.
Keudell was drafted in the 38th round by the Minnesota Twins in the 2011 MLB Draft, but chose to return to Eugene for his senior campaign.
Keudell (2-3) pitched seven strong innings in Oregon's 3-1 victory over Utah last Friday in the Ducks' conference home opener at PK Park.
After allowing a leadoff home run to Utah's James Brooks in the top of the first inning, Keudell scattered four hits and one walk the rest of the way, striking out five. The right-hander also picked off a pair of runners to help his own cause.
In four seasons with the Ducks, Keudell posts a 14-18 record with a 3.68 ERA.
Keudell's junior campaign was his first season as a full-time starter, posting a 7-3 record and 2.89 ERA while striking out 71 and walking just 24 in 90 and 1/3 innings on the mound.
NUMBERS ON THE MOUND
Oregon's 3.14 ERA currently ranks fourth in the Pac-12. The Duck pitching staff is holding opponents to a .231 clip (4th Pac-12), while UO's picthers have picked off nine runners to tie for first in the Pac-12 with Arizona State.
ROOKIE BALL
Freshman right-hander Jake Reed continues to lead the starting staff with a 2.61 ERA in a staff-leading 41 and 1/3 innings on the mound. Reed has recorded five quality starts as Oregon's Saturday starter, and sports 1-2 record with 25 strikeouts.
The Ducks are 4-2 when Reed takes the mound.
Reed was selected in the 40th round (1,221 overall) of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox.
SOPHOMORE SHOW
Oregon's trio of sophomore pitchers - Jeff Gold, Brando Tessar and Jimmie Sherfy - each play significant roles in Oregon's rotation.
Closer Jimmie Sherfy (3-1, 4 SV) is averaging 13.65 strikeouts per nine innings to lead the country, while his 1.63 ERA rates fifth in the Pac-12. In nine appearances this season, Sherfy has pitched Oregon to wins against Hawai'i, Long Beach State and Washington in extra innings, while also recording saves in the series opener and finale at then 17th-ranked Vanderbilt as well as both wins against Utah.
Sherfy has struck out 42 (5th Pac-12) in 27 and 2/3 innings, and his .144 opponent batting average leads the Pac-12.
Oregon's 4-3 loss to Utah on Sunday was the first time the Ducks lost with Brando Tessar on the mound in 2012.
Tessar left the game in the seventh in line for the win as Oregon held a 3-2 advantage. In his last three starts, Tessar is 1-0 with a 1.25 ERA, allowing just three runs in 21 and 2/3 innings. He has struck out 21, and is holding opposing batters to a .208 clip during that stretch.
The Simi Valley, Calif., native pitched a four-hit complete-game shutout in a 4-0 win over Connecticut on March 11, setting a career high with nine innings pitched. At Washington, Tessar held the Huskies to one run on six hits while striking out a career-high eight batters.
Jeff Gold is 3-1 on the season with a 4.09 ERA, and is UO's midweek starter.
SOPHOMORE TRIO
Oregon's offense is led by the middle of its lineup - No. 3 hitter Aaron Jones, clean-up batter Ryon Healy and in the five spot, Kyle Garlick.
Jones (.329) and Healy (.297) lead the team with 19 RBIs and 17 RBIs, respectively, while Garlick leads the club in batting average (.343), slugging percentage (.507), on-base percentage (.439) and stolen bases (7).
Jones leads the Ducks with six multiple-RBI games, while Garlick enters the weekend on a six-game hitting streak.
THE NEW DUO
Junior J.J. Altobelli made the move from third base to shortstop this season, and his infield mate is sophomore Aaron Payne.
The Duck defense has turned 19 double plays, and posts a .976 fielding percentage which ranks third in the Pac-12.
Altobelli currently leads Oregon with seven doubles, while Payne has been plunked 13 times this season (third in the country).
Freshman Scott Heineman has taken over at the hot corner, while Ryon Healy sits at first base. Last week, Heineman batted .444 in the Utah series.
BELIEVE IN SPEED
Sophomore Brett Thomas is batting .297 and leads the Ducks with three triples, which ties for second in the Pac-12.
In Oregon's last 10 games, Thomas is batting .320 with a .520 slugging percentage (three doubles, one triple.
2011 SEASON RECAP
Oregon finished the 2011 season with a 33-26-1 record and an eighth place finish in the Pac-10 with a mark of 11-16.
The Ducks clinched three conference series victories with wins over two Super Regional participants; Stanford and Oregon State as well as regional participant, Arizona.
