Ducks hold on for Hortons 200th win

SPOKANE, Wash. - George Horton picked up his 200th career win at Oregon thanks to the No. 19 Ducks holding off a late rally by Gonzaga to win 3-2 at Patterson Complex on Tuesday in a non-conference game.

The Ducks (20-8) forced Gonzaga (10-17) to strand 13 runners on base during the game including five in the last two innings. The Ducks took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the eight, but GU loaded the bases against reliever Garrett Cleavinger who fanned Beau Bozett to end the threat. Cleavinger got all three outs in the eighth with strikeouts, but not before allowing two hits and hitting a batter.

The ninth inning was even more nerve wracking for the Ducks. Closer Jake Reed struck out the leadoff hitter, but walked the next two hitters before allowing a run scoring base hit by Jimmy Sinatro, whose hit moved the tying run into scoring position at second base with just one out. Reed, who picked up his sixth save, responded striking out the last two batters to clinch the win.

UO built the lead scoring runs on a double play, a ground out and a sacrifice fly. Tyler Baumgartner scored the first run on a no-out groundball double play by J.B. Bryant. A.J. Balta drove in Mark Karaviotis, who tripled with one out in the fifth, with a ground ball to the shortstop. Bryant drove in Balta, who walked to lead off the eighth, with a sacrifice fly to give the Ducks a two-run lead.

Jared Spencer, making his first start since Feb. 23, picked up the win allowing no runs on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts in three innings. Mitchell Tolman went 2-for-4 to lead the Ducks on offense.

Oregon and Gonzaga wrap up their two game series on Wednesday at 3 p.m.