A seventh-inning grand slam proved to be the difference as Oregon dropped its series opener to UC Santa Barbara.
Logan Mercado walked six and allowed three hits, including Ivan Brethowr’s grand slam, over 3.2 innings in a 6-2 loss for the No. 19 Ducks to the Gauchos Friday afternoon at PK Park.
Jace Stoffal allowed two runs on two hits and struck out two over 3.0 innings in his debut start of the season for UO (4-1).
Drew Cowley singled in Rikuu Nishida to get Oregon within 2-1 after five.
The bottom of the order got a rally started for the Gauchos in the seventh via a one-out single, walk and double steal that paved the way for an intentional walk to load the bases for Brethowr, who hit a 1-0 pitch from Mercado over the wall in left.
Tanner Smith went 2 for 4 and scored on a sacrifice fly in the eighth for Oregon, which got 2.1 scoreless innings of relief from Ian Umlandt, Dylan McShane and Jacob Hughes.
The teams play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 11 a.m.