Baseball Weekly Release: UCLA
04/03/12 | Baseball
No. 22 Oregon at No. 5 UCLA
• Date: Thursday-Saturday, April 5-7
• Venue: Jackie Robinson Stadium (Los Angeles)
• TV: None
• Radio: KUJZ 95.3 FM in Eugene/Springfield; Jerry Allen
• Audio: O-Zone at www.GoDucks.com
• Webcast: None
• Live Stats: www.GoDucks.com
• Twitter: @OregonBaseball for in-game updates, stats, etc
• Facebook
THIS WEEK
Oregon hits the road this weekend to take on fifth-ranked UCLA. The Bruins will be the highest-ranked opponent that the Ducks have played in 2012.
The series begins at 6:00 p.m. Thursday at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Friday's game will also be a 6:00 p.m. first pitch, with Saturday's series finale set for noon.
RANKINGS
After beginning the season unranked, the Ducks (18-8, 6-3) are currently ranked in four national polls, and rest at No. 22 in the Baseball America rankings.
UCLA (20-5, 7-2) is currently tied with Arizona for first in the Pac-12 standings, and the Bruins enter the weekend after a sweep Utah in Salt Lake City. The Bruins began 2012 ranked 14th in the country, but have moved up in the polls with three series wins in league play.
LAST WEEK RECAP
Oregon responded to a three-game losing streak with a three-game winning streak as the Ducks swept 14th-ranked Arizona State at PK Park last weekend. After beginning the week with losses to Texas State on the road Tuesday and Wednesday, Oregon regrouped by sweeping ASU for the first time in the all-time series history between the two clubs.
During the Pac-12 series, Oregon's starting staff tossed 22 and 2/3 shutout innings and went 3-0 on this hill, totaling 11 strikeouts. At the plate, Aaron Jones batted .421 in five games last week, driving in six runs to bring his season total to a team-leading 23 RBIs. In Saturday's 3-1 win over ASU, Kyle Garlick became the first Duck since the program was reinstated (2009) to hit two home runs in a single game – bringing his total to a team-best four. Garlick batted .353 last week, and drove in four runs.
UCLA SERIES
UCLA leads the all-time series with Oregon 17-5. In 2012, the Bruins swept the Ducks at PK Park, outscoring Oregon 14-2.
The last time Oregon played at Jackie Robinson Stadium in 2010, Oregon won its first and only series in the all-time series history against the Bruins. The Ducks upset then top-ranked UCLA 5-4 (April 16) and 8-4 (April 17), before dropping the finale, 5-1 (April 18).
In two starts against UCLA, Alex Keudell is 0-1 with a 0.71 ERA, and in 12 and 2/3 innings against the Bruins, Keudell has surrendered just one earned run. J.J. Altobelli and Ryan Hambright are the only two other Ducks to play against the Bruins in both 2010 and 2011.
A HOUSE DIVIDED
Oregon freshman third baseman Scott Heineman will play older brother and UCLA starting catcher Tyler Heineman this weekend. The older Heineman is batting .400 (.516 Pac-12 only) and has driven in 18 runs for the Bruins in 2012.
2012 SCHEDULE
Oregon's 2012 schedule is ranked the 18th strongest in the country according boydsworldcom, while the website rated UO's RPI at 30 .
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
• With Oregon's sweep of ASU last weekend, the Ducks swept their first conference opponent since ending the 2011 season with a sweep of then sixth-ranked Oregon State. The Ducks also swept their third series of the year and its second ranked opponent of 2012.
• Oregon 's sweep of ASU was the first in the series history between the two clubs, and Saturday's 1-0 victory was the first Oregon shut out of the Sun Devils.
• In Oregon's 3-1 victory over ASU on Saturday, Kyle Garlick became the first UO player since reinstatement (2009) to hit two home runs in one game.
• Oregon 4-3 loss to Utah on March 25 was Oregon's first defeat when leading after eight innings (11-1) in 2012.
• 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 8-4 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).
• Two Oregon pitchers have tossed nine-inning complete-game shutouts in 2012: Brando Tessar's four-hit, nine-inning complete-game shutout helped UO to a 4-0 win over Connecticut on March 11. Alex Keudell pitched a four-hit shutout as No. 23 Oregon upset No. 14 Arizona State 1-0 on March 31.
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 11 games (6-5), the Ducks are averaging 3.1 runs per game, and have been outscored 34-45.
Oregon is also 8-4 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 (3-3) pitched the first complete-game shutout of his career as No. 23 Oregon upset No. 14 Arizona State 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at PK Park in the first game of the weekend series. The Ducks shut out ASU for the first time in series history as Keudell allowed just four hits and issued two walks, while helping his cause by picking off two runners. The native of Portland, Ore., faced just three batters over the minimum while tossing a season-best nine innings, and the third complete game of his career.
In four seasons with the Ducks, Keudell posts a 15-18 record with a 3.55 ERA. His 15 wins tie for sixth in all-time program history.
NUMBERS ON THE MOUND
Oregon's 2.94 ERA currently ranks second in the Pac-12 and 24th in the country. The Duck pitching staff is holding opponents to a .228 clip (3rd Pac-12), while UO's pitchers have picked off 11 runners to lead the league. Oregon's 187 strikeouts tie for third, but the UO has struck out 68 batters looking for tops in the conference.
Oregon's staff allows just 7.15 hits per nine innings to rank eighth in the country.
ROOKIE BALL
Freshman right-hander Jake Reed leads the staff with a 2.22 ERA (7th Pac-12) in 48 and 2/3 innings on the mound. Reed has recorded six quality starts as Oregon's Saturday starter, and sports 2-2 record with 29 strikeouts. The La Mesa, Calif., native is also holding opposing batters to a .216 clip (9th Pac-12).
The Ducks are 5-2 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, 6 SV) is averaging 13.66 strikeouts per nine innings to lead the country, while his 2.37 ERA rates 10th in the Pac-12. In 11 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, both wins against Utah and the final two games against Arizona State.
Sherfy has struck out 46 (6th Pac-12) in 30 and 1/3 innings, and his .176 opponent batting average leads the Pac-12.
Brando Tessar is an undefeated 4-0 in 2012, and currently sports a 2.64 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 44 and 1/3 innings on the mound.
The Ducks are now 6-1 when Tessar is on the mound, and in his last four starts, UO's Sunday starter is 2-0, allowing just three runs (0.96 ERA) in 28 innings on the mound while striking out 26. Last Sunday, Tessar
tossed six and 1/3 shutout innings, holding the Sun Devils to two hits while striking out five. He managed to hold ASU scoreless despite issuing six walks.
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 six spot, Kyle Garlick.
Jones (.333) leads the team with 23 RBIs, 32 hits, and seven multiple-RBI games.
Healy (.307) has driven in 18 runs in 2012, while Kyle Garlick leads the club in batting average (.351), home runs (four), slugging percentage (.597, 6th Pac-12) and on-base percentage (.435).
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 23 double plays, and posts a .978 fielding percentage which ranks second in the Pac-12.
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.
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.
