EUGENE, Ore. -- Beginning their final stretch of eight straight games away from San Francisco, the USF Dons baseball team (13-14, 4-8) dropped a close 5-3 battle with the hometown Oregon Ducks (21-9, 7-5) on Tuesday night from PK Park.

The Dons received a strong start from Max Jones as he made his return to the team's rotation against Oregon, while Blake Atkins drove in a pair of runs as he hit in the two-hole in the batting order for the first time during the 2023 season. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Each team's starter got off to nice starts on the mound as the game was scoreless through the first two innings before the hometown Ducks were able to break through with three runs in the third inning on a two-run single and an error that gave UO the 3-0 advantage heading into the fourth inning. 
• Oregon wasn't done yet adding to their run total in the bottom of the fourth as another two-run single helped pad their lead to 5-0 but would be the final runs they'd score against the Dons' pitching staff the rest of the night.
• After starting the night with quiet bats, the USF offense began to come alive in the top of the seventh inning as Ryan Martinez hit an opposite field single and Logan Azem worked a walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Mario DeMera followed by working a tough walk to load up the bases with Atkins delivering a key blow with a two-run single to right field scoring R. Martinez and Azem. Will Asby continued the late inning rally one batter later as he drove in DeMera with a double to left center field that cut the Ducks' lead down to 5-3.
• The final two innings remained scoreless for both sides as the Oregon bullpen was able to keep USF off the scoreboard to pick up the 5-3 win on their home diamond.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Atkins had the key hit for the Dons as he went 1-for-5 with the two-run opposite field knock playing second base for USF on Tuesday night.
• Asby was able to collect his fourth double of the season as he shot a line drive to the left center gap in his 1-for-4 performance against Oregon.
• Reaching base twice against the Ducks, Azem went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk as he made his fifth start of the season serving as the DH on Tuesday.
• Jones, Oscar Lepe and Kaleb Woltz each had strong outings on the mound as the trio combined to toss five scoreless innings with only three hits allowed, no walks and five strikeouts of Oregon hitters to begin the series. 

UP NEXT:
USF now wraps up their extended road trip tomorrow afternoon at 12:05 p.m. as they will play the series finale with Oregon before returning to the Hilltop as they take on the Pepperdine Waves this weekend. Live steaming and live statistics links are available via the team's schedule page.
 
FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the USF baseball program, be sure to follow @SFDonsBaseball on Twitter, @USFDonsBaseball on Instagram and @University.of.San.Francisco.Baseball on Facebook.
 
MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Rep USF today by visiting the all-new USF Dons online store at www.usfdons.com/shop.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge our department sponsor – Corona - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.