This is what a Friday night starter looks like.
RJ Gordon threw 8 1/3 innings to lead Oregon to a 4-1 victory over USC in the opening game of a three-game weekend set with the Trojans.
With the win, the Ducks go to 24-9 overall and 9-4 in Pac-12 action and maintain third place in the standings. The Men of Troy falls to 16-17 overall and 9-6 in league play.
Gordon, who gave up just five hits and struck out three to go to 5-2 on the season. was just two outs away from the first complete game of the season. But the Trojans managed to get runners on the corners with one out. Oregon brought in Logan Mercado to nail down the game to earn his sixth save of the season.
The Trojans claimed a very early 1-0 lead with a run in the first, but the Ducks answered with solo runs in the second, third and fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead. The scoreboard held right there for a while until Oregon was able to score an insurance run in the eighth when Ryan Cooney was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. It was a tough way to get an RBI, but the Ducks were more than willing to take it in order to extend their lead.
USC found out that it would have to hit the ball into the PK Park parking lot in order to hit a homer. Centerfielder Bryce Boettcher robbed Jacob Galloway of a homer to center as he leaped up against the wall and brought down the would-be round-tripper for the play of the game.
These two teams meet for Game 2 of the series on Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for 2:05 pm. The Ducks will go with left-hander Grayson Grinsell (3-2, 3.79 ERA) and the Trojans will counter with Eric Hammond (2-2, 6.94 ERA).