Oregon suffered its most lop-sided loss of the Mark Wasikowski era and dropped its opening Pac-12 series to No. 16 UCLA.
Jacob Walsh had two of three hits for the Ducks in a 16-0 beatdown at the hands of the Bruins Sunday afternoon at PK Park.
It was Oregon’s worst margin of defeat since a 28-7 loss to Arizona on May 5, 2019 and its largest shutout loss since the program was restored in 2009.
UCLA (12-3, 2-1 Pac-12) scored four runs in the first via an RBI groundout, two-run double and error and added five more in the second on a series of RBI singles.
Oregon starter Jackson Pace lasted just 1.1 innings, allowing eight runs, seven earned, on four hits, three walks and two hit batters.
The Bruins added five more in the fifth on an RBI single and Duce Gourson grand slam and tacked on two more in the ninth.
Rikuu Nishida, who made his first start in right field, broke up Kelly Austin’s no-hitter with a leadoff double in the fourth. Walsh doubled in the fifth and singled in the seventh for the only other hits allowed by Austin, who struck out eight and walked two over 6.2 innings.
It was the second time this season Oregon (9-5, 1-2) was shutout and only the fifth time in Wasikowski’s four seasons as coach.
“We have to put in a full week of work,” Wasikowski said. “That’s what you do. You assess the things that you were weak at and you assess the things that need improvement and you attack those things in your week of practice.”
Oregon will host Niagara at 4 p.m. Wednesday at PK Park.
