Eugene, Ore. – Braden Gebhardt did not allow an earned run while limiting Oregon to two hits over seven strong innings on the mound as the Youngstown State baseball team fell 3-0 to the Ducks on Friday evening at PK Park.
The Ducks got on the scoreboard first with a single unearned run in the bottom of the fourth before adding a pair of insurance runs in the eighth. The Penguins loaded the bases with three walks in the ninth before Oregon reliever Devin Bell came out of the bullpen to retire back-to-back Penguins and give the Ducks a 2-0 series lead.
Youngstown State drops to 0-5 on the 2026 season while Oregon improves to 6-0.
Gebhardt, the senior left-hander from Howland, Ohio, delivered his second masterful starting pitching performance in as many outings to begin the 2026 season. A week after he recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts over six innings in an impressive Opening Day effort in a 2-1 loss at Auburn in the season opener, Gebhardt matched the longest outing of his career while blanking Oregon in six different frames on Friday.
Gebhardt, who has allowed no earned runs and just four hits with 16 total strikeouts in 13 innings pitched through two starts, retired the side in order on three different occasions on Friday at Oregon. He did not allow a hit over the first three innings while surpassing 150 career strikeouts in his 58th appearance as a Penguin.
Nathan Beckley went 2-for-3 with a walk at the plate as the Penguins bested the Ducks 4-3 in the hit column. Brayden Kuriger and Misael Uriepero added base hits while Uriepero and Garrett Cutting each recorded a stolen base.
Luke Zmolik was responsible for two runs in his lone inning out of the bullpen for YSU.
The Ducks broke a scoreless tie with a single run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jax Gimenez drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third when Dominic Hellman followed with a double to left center. After Gebhardt retired the next two batters, Gimenez was able to race home on a passed ball to give Oregon a 1-0 edge.
The Ducks pushed their advantage to 3-0 by scoring twice in the home half of the eighth. Owen Morgan led off the inning with an infield single, advanced to third following an errant throw as he swiped second base and scored on a wild pitch. Jack Brooks followed with a walk, stole second base, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Gimenez's RBI groundout.
Oregon starter Will Sanford earned the win after allowing four hits and striking out six batters over six scoreless innings. Tanner Bradley tossed 2.1 innings of relief before Bell came on to get the final two outs and collect the save.
Game three of the four-game series between Youngstown State and Oregon is scheduled for 3 p.m. Eastern/12 p.m. Pacific Time on Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on B1G+.
