Molony, Walsh have Big Games in Loss

STANFORD, Calif. — Maddox Molony and Jacob Walsh combined for three home runs, six hits, five RBI and four runs scored but Stanford took advantage of an off night on the mound by Oregon in a 19-7 Cardinal win in Pac-12 Conference play on Friday night.
 
The Ducks built an early lead but Stanford (16-19, 8-8 Pac-12) put together a pair of big innings scoring six in the fourth and nine more in the eighth to pull away from Oregon (26-11, 10-6 Pac-12).
 
Molony homered twice, his first career multi-homer game, while driving in a career-high four runs. The two home runs gave Molony six on the season, tying him for the Oregon freshman home run record with teammates Ryan Cooney and Walsh (2022), as well as Jonny DeLuca (2018).
 
Walsh finished a triple shy of becoming the first Duck to hit for the cycle since 2010.
 
How It Happened: Both teams put runs on the board in the second inning with long balls. After Anson Aroz doubled to lead off the inning, Molony launched a 3-2 pitch over the left-field wall for a 2-0 Ducks' lead.
 
Stanford catcher Malcolm Moore cut the lead to one with a leadoff homer in the Cardinal half of the inning, but Oregon responded with two more runs in the top of the third.
 
Walsh led off the frame with a walk before moving to second on an Aroz infield hit and scoring on a Drew Smith base hit. Molony then picked up his third RBI of the game driving in Aroz from third.
 
Walsh added to the lead in the fourth with a two-out home run to right field for a 5-1 lead before the Cardinal put six runs on the board in their half of the inning to take the lead and then added two more on Moore's second home run of the game in the fifth.
 
Moore added a third homer in the seventh, before Molony went yard for the second time on the night with a solo shot to left in the eighth
 
Stanford pushed the lead to 19-6 before Mason Neville delivered a pinch-hit RBI double in the ninth to complete the scoring.
 
Box Score Notes: Walsh moved into sole possession of fifth in career doubles with a first-inning shot into the right-field corner, passing Drew Cowley (2022-23) and J.J. Altobelli (2010-13) … Walsh's fourth-inning homer moved him into sole possession of fifth on Oregon's single-season home run list, one behind his 2023 total … Walsh (3-for-3, HR, 2B, RBI, 2 R) finished with his 43rd career multiple-hit game and his 10th of the season … Aroz (2-for-5, 2B, 2 R) finished with his 10th multiple-hit game of the season and the 12th of his career … Molony (3-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R) notched his seventh multiple-hit game in just his 16th career start and his sixth multi-RBI game.
 
On Deck: The Ducks and Cardinal play game two of the series on Saturday with a 2:05 p.m. first pitch.