(Photo: Kimmy Davis/WCSN)
After 19 straight home games, No. 7 Arizona State travels north to Eugene, Oregon, where it will play the No. 15 Oregon Ducks.
ASU currently has a 13-6 record, and is coming off a midweek win over New Mexico and an impressive series victory against the Oregon State Beavers.
Oregon brings in a 14-6 record. After opening the season 13-2, the Ducks have lost two straight series’ to San Francisco and UC Berkeley, going 1-4 in that stretch.
The Ducks are coached by George Horton, who is in his seventh year in Eugene. Horton took over a teetering Ducks program in 2009, and since then has coached Oregon to the NCAA tournament four times. Last year, the Ducks had a 44-20 record, finished fourth in the Pac-12 behind ASU, and made it to the Regionals of the NCAA baseball tournament.
Despite starting the year off strong, the Oregon offense has been stagnant in its last five games, averaging only 2.4 runs per game in that span.
Still, Oregon possesses some dangerous pieces throughout its lineup.
Leadoff hitter Matt Eureste has been great for the Ducks, hitting .300, scoring 13 runs and stealing five bags, all of which lead the team.
As for the power department, Phoenix native Shaun Chase leads the Ducks with four home runs and also boasts a .479 slugging percentage.
Oregon’s pitching trio for the weekend will be Conor Harber, Jack Karraker, and Cole Irvin.
Conor Harber, a junior college transfer, will make his start for Oregon on Friday. Karraker leads the team with a 1.29 ERA. Cole Irvin leads the Ducks with five starts atop the mound.
Key bullpen pitchers for the Ducks are Stephen Nogosek and Garrett Cleavinger, each of whom have made eight appearances on the season.
Interestingly, Nogosek leads the Ducks squad with four wins, and is thus fully comfortable in a long relief, should the Oregon starter exit prematurely.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Friday with Seth Martinez taking the mound for the Sun Devils and Conor Harber toeing the hill for the Ducks.
