No. 10 Ducks squeeze past Bulldogs

J.J. Altobelli’s safety squeeze bunt in the bottom of the seventh inning scored a pair of runs as the 10th-ranked Oregon Ducks defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 4-1 in nonconference play on Wednesday in Eugene, Ore.

Gonzaga (32-18-1) has never beaten Oregon (42-11) in six tries.

The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Alex bonczyk tripled and scored on a fielder’s choice from Cory LeBrun.

Oregon did nothing against Gonzaga ace Marco Gonzales, who had a limited pitch count. Gonzales threw three perfect innings with three strikeouts before hitting his limit.

The Ducks, who swept the two games, tied the game against Zach Abbruzza (0-3) in the fourth on Scott Heineman’s RBI single. Abbruzza left in the seventh with the bases loaded and Altobelli’s bunt came against Tyler Olson.

Golf

Whitworth Pirates senior Emily Guthrie jumped from a tie for 23rd place to a tie for 13th after the second round of the women’s NCAA Championships at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin, Fla.

Guthrie, who opened with an 8-over-par 80 on Tuesday, shot a 5-over 77 in the second round to give her a 157 total.

The third round begins today. There are 111 golfers in the tournament. Guthrie is the only Pirate in the event.

Fellow Northwest Conference member George Fox is third in the team standings.

• The Whitworth Pirates men failed to make the cut in the men’s tourney in Destin, Fla.

Whitworth placed 21st. Only the top 15 teams advanced.

Oliver Rudnicki led the Pirates on the day with a 1-under 71. Stephen Plopper tied for 39th to pace the Whits overall.