EUGENE, Ore. – Core Jackson's three-run double proved to be the difference, as the No. 25 Utah Baseball team held off a late Oregon rally in a 9-7 win over the No. 21 Ducks in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at PK Park.
 
With the victory, Utah (30-15, 15-9 Pac-12) has hit 30 wins for the first time since 2002; fifteen conference wins for the team match the most for the program since 2017.

Also, with today's win combined with Washington State's loss vs. Oregon State, the Utes mathematically clinched a berth in the 2024 Pac-12 Baseball Tournament. The tournament begins May 21 at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona.
 
Jackson's two-bagger capped off a two-hit day for the junior, plus a four-run eighth for the Utes on the heels of an RBI infield single from Hunter Antillon. At the time it gave Utah an 8-3 lead, though the Ducks used two homers in the bottom of the frame to close in within 8-7. Karson Bodily added a sac fly in the ninth to bring in TJ Clarkson and give the game its final score.
 
Colter McAnelly (5-2) had his longest start as a Ute, going six innings and allowing three runs on four hits and three walks. Oregon reached the leadoff batter just once against McAnelly, who had five strikeouts. Randon Hostert came on from the bullpen in the seventh inning, then southpaw Micah Ashman recorded the final four outs—earning his 11^th save of the season.
 
It was a true team effort for Utah as the club had three other multi-hit performances besides Jackson. Clarkson and Antillon each had two hits, as did Michael Davinni after entering as a defensive replacement in the fourth inning. Tyler Quinn also clubbed his fourth home run of the season.
 
Utah got on the board early, pushing a run across in the first inning. Jackson led off the ballgame with a single up the middle and would later score on a base hit from Clarkson.
 
Two solo homers for Oregon put the Ducks ahead after three innings, but the Utes countered with a three-spot in the top of the fourth. A walk to Clarkson set the stage for Quinn to blast a two-run homer to left field and put the Utes ahead, 3-2.
 
Bodily and Carpenter followed up with back-to-back singles, then a beautifully-placed safety squeeze by Antillon went to the right side for a single that scored Bodily.
 
Oregon pulled back within one when a bases-loaded wild pitch allowed a run to score in the fifth inning. From there, McAnelly got out of the fifth on a fly ball then finished the sixth unharmed, negating a two-out single with a strikeout looking on the next batter.
 
Davinni sparked the Utah bats in the eighth with a single that hopped off the second base bag. After a walk to Bodily plus an HBP with Antillon at the dish, suddenly the bases were loaded with one out. Bruer Webster would reach on a fielder's choice, the prologue for Jackson's double to the gap in left center. At that point the Utes took an 8-3 lead.
 
But things got interesting in the home half of the eighth when Bennett Thompson hit a pinch-hit, three-run homer and Bryce Boettcher followed with a big fly of his own for Oregon. Ashman entered with two outs in what was then an 8-7 game, getting a groundout to end the inning.
 
Ashman struck out the first two batters he faced in the ninth before the Ducks put a runner on with an infield single. Maddox Molony then gave one a ride to center field, but Kai Roberts was under it to make the game-ending catch.
 
Next Up
The Utes will travel home tonight and are back to game action on Tuesday afternoon, May 7, with a game at Utah Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. MT at Bruce Hurst Field down in St. George, Utah.
 
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Four home games remain on the Utes' schedule at Smith's Ballpark, including a three-game series vs. Arizona (May 10-12) as well as a Tuesday, May 14 tilt against Utah Tech. Click here to secure your tickets.
 
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