Oregon baseball clobbers Illinois for run-rule victory to open series

Another trip to the Midwest, but this time the Oregon Ducks (27-10, 11-5 Big Ten) got off to the right start, taking down Illinois (19-17, 7-9 Big Ten) in a game that ended after seven innings due to the run-rule.

The Ducks had no problem finding the big hit on a day when the ball flew around the yard. 10 of Oregon’s 16 runs were scored with two outs in the inning. Naulivou Lauaki Jr. mashed two more home runs to continue his hot streak since entering the lineup. Oregon collected 19 hits in the shortened contest, tied for the second-most by the club this season.

The wind played a big factor in a game that saw a combined nine home runs. The Ducks and Illini traded blows in the early going with a pair of home runs. Drew Smith clobbered one to left for a two-run homer in the opening frame, and Maddox Molony followed with a solo shot for his 31st career big fly as a Duck, tying him with Tanner Smith for the third-most in program history.

Illinois responded with two homers of their own against Oregon starter Will Sanford, but the Ducks took the lead for good in the third inning. A leadoff triple by Brayden Jaksa came around to score on an RBI double by Ryan Cooney. Oregon’s second baseman finished the day with the first five-hit game of his career.

The big blow in the inning came from Lauaki, who smacked a three-run home run to left field and drilled a tree beyond the wall. The ball traveled 496 feet for the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Laukai’s home run capped a five-run inning for the Ducks.

However, the Ducks weren’t done yet. With the bases loaded in the fourth inning, Molony stepped up and hit a high fly ball that landed in front of the left fielder for a hit. The ball took a sharp bounce over the fielder’s head, allowing the Ducks to clear the bases on Molony’s double and take a commanding 11-3 lead.