LA JOLLA, Calif. (Interstat) — The Oregon Ducks wasted no time asserting their dominance, erupting for five first-inning runs and cruising to a 12-4 victory over the UC San Diego Tritons on Wednesday afternoon at UCSD Triton Baseball Field.

The win secured a two-game midweek series sweep for the Ducks, who improved to 21-4. The Tritons fell to 9-13.

Oregon’s offense exploded from the game’s first pitch. Leadoff hitter Cooney doubled down the left field line, and after a hit-by-pitch and a strikeout, third baseman Drew Smith stepped in. Smith, held hitless in Tuesday’s series opener, launched a three-run homer to deep center field, staking the Ducks to an immediate 3-0 lead. The onslaught continued as Oregon loaded the bases via a single and two more hit batters before catcher Brayden Jaksa drove in another run with a sacrifice fly. The Tritons were forced to make a pitching change before recording the third out, summoning Nathan Huy from the bullpen to escape the inning.

The most important part of the game was Oregon’s immediate and overwhelming first-inning outburst. The five-run frame, highlighted by Smith’s three-run blast, placed UC San Diego in a deep deficit from which it never recovered, setting the tone for the entire contest and allowing Oregon to control the game wire-to-wire.

UC San Diego showed a brief response in the bottom of the second against Oregon starter Toby Twist. After two batters reached, right fielder Nick Costello tripled to deep right field, driving in two runs to cut the lead to 5-2. Twist, however, limited further damage, ending his day after 4 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out six.

Oregon quickly restored its cushion in the fourth. After a walk to Miranda, Jaksa connected for a two-run homer to deep center, pushing the lead back to five runs at 7-2. The Ducks added two more in the sixth on a two-run double by Jr, scoring Cooney and Gimenez, who had both reached base.

The Tritons scored single runs in the fifth and seventh innings. In the fifth, a double by Camacho drove in Crossland, who had singled. In the seventh, Elvis doubled, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a passed ball to make it 9-4.

Oregon put the game fully out of reach with a three-run ninth inning. Pinch-hitter Schleichardt delivered a two-run single, and Gimenez added a sacrifice fly to provide the final margin.

Following Twist, the Oregon bullpen was stellar. Michael Meckna, Tanner Bradley and Cooper Markham combined for 4 2/3 innings of perfect relief, allowing no hits and no walks while striking out four. Bradley struck out two in his perfect eighth inning.

For UC San Diego, reliever Nathan Ries provided stability after the chaotic first, working four innings and allowing two earned runs on three hits. Chapman Weber and Nathan Huy also contributed scoreless outings.

Smith finished 2 for 6 with a home run and four RBIs, leading the Ducks’ 13-hit attack. Jaksa went 1 for 3 with the home run and three RBIs. Cooney scored four runs from the leadoff spot. For the Tritons, Costello was the lone bright spot offensively, going 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs.

The game’s outcome exceeded the projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast an 8-5 Oregon victory. The Ducks’ probability of winning was set at 73.5% by the system’s ELO ratings.

Oregon travels to face UC Santa Barbara for a three-game series starting Friday. UC San Diego opens a Big West Conference series at UC Davis on Friday.