Charles Fischer

I look for Illinois to be a candidate to crack that....

MEDIA ADVISORY | Oregon vs. Oregon State Game Postponed Tonight’s Oregon game vs. Oregon State at Hops Ballpark in Hillsboro, Ore., has been postponed. Tickets for the game will be valid on the date the game is rescheduled.

This time it is not Angel Laya, or Brayden Jaksa...but Nauvilou Lauaki Jr.! OREGON ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026 BASEBALL | @OregonBaseball Lauaki earns Big Ten Freshman of the Week Honors EUGENE, Ore. – Heading into the week, Naulivou Lauaki had made just two career starts but that did not stop him from leading Oregon to a series win over No. 19 Nebraska and in turn being named the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week. In four starts during the week, the redshirt freshman slashed .471/.471/1.176 with a 1.647 OPS, while going 8-for-15 at the plate with six extra-base hits (3 HR, 3 2B), six RBI and five runs scored. In a midweek start at Portland, Lauaki homered and had two doubles while going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. In the Nebraska series, he slashed .385/.385/.923 with two home runs, a double, five RBI and three runs scored. In a 7-6 win on Friday, Lauaki drove in a pair of runs with a two-out double in the fourth inning to give Oregon a 2-1 lead. On Saturday, the Ducks' DH belted a pair of home runs while also delivering a run-scoring single before finishing 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored. In Sunday's series-clinching win he added a hit and run scored. Lauaki is the fourth Oregon player to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors in the Ducks’ two seasons in the conference. Angel Laya earned the honor twice earlier this season, while Burke-Lee Mabeus claimed the honor last season. Oregon All-Time Big Ten Freshman of the Week Honors Naulivou Lauaki Jr. (4/13/26) Angel Laya (2/16/26; 3/9/26) Burke-Lee Mabeus (2/24/25) D1Baseball Rankings for Monday April 13th, 2026 of the Big-10, and Others... No. 1 UCLA No. 6 Beavis (We could get a bump in RPI as we play them Tuesday night in Portland) No. 12 USC No. 19 Oregon Dropped out? Nebraska at 27-9 dropped out of the top 25 by losing the series at Oregon by one run? They are a good team...

OREGON ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 2026 BASEBALL | @OregonBaseball Laya Sets Record As Ducks Win Rubber Match Angel Laya's two homers Sunday broke the UO record for a freshman and helped the Ducks win a top-25 series over Nebraska. EUGENE, Ore. — A record-breaking day from a freshman kept Oregon in the game early, and a shutdown bullpen sealed it for the Ducks late. Angel Laya homered twice to break the UO single-season record by a freshman, and the Oregon bullpen threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings as the No. 21 Ducks won the rubber match of a series with No. 19 Nebraska on Sunday at PK Park, 5-4. Laya hit a two-run shot that gave the Ducks (26-10, 10-5 Big Ten) an early lead in the second, tying teammate Maddox Molony’s two-year-old record for homers by a UO freshman with 10. Laya broke the record with a solo shot that sparked a three-run rally in the sixth, bringing Oregon back from a 4-2 deficit. “It feels good,” Laya said. “(But) it wasn't a goal of mine at all; I came into the season just trying to help the team win and make it to Omaha.” Wins like Sunday’s can help fuel those aspirations. The Ducks won the rubber match against a conference rival and fellow top-25 team, bouncing back from defeat to build some momentum before a match-up with rival Oregon State on Tuesday and then a weekend road trip to Illinois. “It definitely feels good — pops us up going into this midweek and for the next weekend,” said Tanner Bradley (3-0), who got seven outs in middle relief to start the shutout effort by the UO bullpen. “But we also like to keep it flat-line, not get too high, not get too low.” Miles Gosztola took the ball from Bradley and pitched a scoreless seventh inning, keeping his cool despite tempers flaring after a hard slide at second by the Huskers on one of Oregon’s season-high three double plays. Devin Bell then earned his ninth save of the season by getting the last six outs. “Just amazing — awesome,” Bell said of the overall relief effort. “I mean, I want to say I think we do have the best bullpen in the country when we free ourselves up. … We just keep going forward, I think we'll keep getting better.” How It Happened: After Nebraska took a 1-0 lead on a solo homer in the first, Laya gave Oregon a 2-1 lead in the second by following Drew Smith’s leadoff double with the homer to tie Molony’s UO freshman record. The first four Huskers in the third all reached, a three-run inning that put them back in front 4-2. Bradley came on in relief of Cal Scolari to get the last out of the fourth, and he threw two more scoreless innings to keep it 4-2 until Oregon’s bats got going again. That happened in the sixth, sparked by Laya’s record-setting solo shot with one out. Molony followed with a single and Burke-Lee Mabeus doubled him in to tie the score, 4-4. Two batters later, Jack Brooks singled and Oregon had the lead. Gosztola walked the leadoff batter in the seventh but then coaxed a double-play ball. A hard slide into second caused a brief confrontation between UO second baseman Ryan Cooney and the baserunner, but cooler heads prevailed and Gosztola finished off a scoreless inning after allowing a two-out single. Laya was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the seventh, after launching a deep drive to left that curled outside the foul pole. Bell then came in and pitched around a two-out single in the eighth and a one-out double in the ninth, slamming the door on the Huskers to end a game in which tensions were high due to the pregame implications and the seventh-inning confrontation. “I think as a team, when we free ourselves up, we play our best,” Bell said. “Just putting those extra stressors on us just doesn't really help you. So when we free ourselves up, we play our best.” Up Next: The Ducks face Oregon State at Hops Stadium in Hillsboro on Tuesday (6 p.m., KOIN.com).

I agree; they are not an overrated Big-10 team...they deserve their ranking and more. They will be tough to overcome the rest of the season!

Josiah Molden is a Rivals 4-Star, and besides Oregon was offered by Ohio State, Washington, (Ha!) USC, Notre Dame, Miami and Texas. He is 6'0" and 175 pounds, and could play the "Star" position at Oregon, of which is our fifth defensive back--the Nickel position.

Ducks win 5-4! Whoa...Devin Bell surprised the batters with an inside curve/drop-ball, and although he gave up a bloop-double...got it done for his ninth save. Win goes to Tanner Bradley!

5-4 Ducks after eight innings. Devin Bell came in and retired the side with a 94 mph fastball, and nasty slider. Oregon strands two on base!

5-4 Ducks after seven innings. Miles Gosztola came in for relief, and retired the side--but not without some drama. In a sweet double-play...the Nebraska second baseman slid hard into second base, and Oregon second baseman Ryan Cooney got the throw off, but did not like the hit on his legs and said so. Both guys got chest-to-chest blustering banal utterings to each other, and the umpires broke it up and gave both teams warnings.

5-4 Ducks after six innings, as Tanner Bradley was awesome again in this inning. Angel Laya gave us another solo home-run that hits on top of the roof of the practice facility! Maddox Molony gets a solid base-knock to shallow CF, and then Burke-Lee Mabeus hits opposite field to zing one down the 3rd baseline and into the corner against the shift, and scores Molony from first base. RS Freshman Naulivou Lauaki Jr. hits to the shortstop, who throws home to stop Mabeus...and meanwhile Lauaki has moved to second base...and later to third on a wild pitch. Jack Brooks gets his first hit of the series--again opposite the shift to LF, and scores Lauaki.

4-2 Nebraska after five innings. Tanner Bradley took out three of four batters... On offense?

4-2 Nebraska after four innings. Scolari was replaced by Tanner Bradley, as the pitch count was climbing... Gotta hand it to our foe, as they hit and pitch well, and thus why they are ranked.

4-2 Nebraska after three innings. Cal Scolari gave up three hits, walks...etc. Not pitching to the hyped level we heard about, at least today thus far. Ducks strand two on bases...

2-1 Ducks after two innings. Cal Scolari got it done this inning, and the offense began to move to help him. Drew Smith nailed a pitch to the LF corner for a leadoff double to begin, and then Angel Laya crushes a pitch with a perfect swing to put it over the RF wall for a two-run homer! Oregon was robbed of another two-run homer by a stupendous play by the Cornhusker center-fielder as he leaped high an over the wall to snag the HR away from Burke-Lee Mabeus.

1-0 Nebraska after one inning. Cal Scolari gave up a solo HR, and nothing on offense. Oregon's Cal Scolari (2.82 ERA) vs. Cooper Katskee (2.79 ERA) and we really need the pitching to hold-up today...

Nebraska wins 10-8 after Luke Morgan kept them scoreless in the 9th. Maddox Molony hit a line drive for a hit, and Burke-Lee Mabeus nailed a pitch to the wall to score Molony...but that was it.

10-7 Nebraska after eight innings. Toby Twist was doing fine...until he gave up a two-run homer. Luke Morgan came in to finish the side... On offense...nothing when we needed it.

8-7 Nebraska after seven innings. Toby Twist came in to relieve for Oregon, and kept them scoreless for the inning. RS freshman Naulivou Lauaki Jr. continues to amaze with another solo homer over CF!

8-6 Nebraska after six innings. Oregon's Michael Meckna gave up a walk and hit, but kept them scoreless in this inning. Ducks strand two on base...

8-6 Nebraska after five innings. I have no idea why...but they brought Collin Clarke back out--who gave up two more runs before being replaced by Michael Meckna. RS freshman Naulivou Lauaki Jr. is replacing Dominic Hellman as DH for Oregon...and continues to earn it as he blasted a solo HR over CF.

6-5 Nebraska after four innings. Good gosh...they figured out Collin Clarke big-time, and just carved him up. He gave up two solo HRs, and 2-run HR, and a ton of hits that scored another. What a nightmare inning... In this inning...Oregon strands bases-loaded.

5-0 Ducks after three innings. Collin Clarke is very emotional, and can be a hot-head to other teams. He caught a line-drive right at him, and then had a stare-down with the batter that did not go over well with the Nebraska dugout, nor the umpires. Everyone was warned, and then Clarke kept them scoreless again. Angel Laya hits deep off the CF wall for a double, and then RS freshman Naulivou Lauaki Jr. sent a missile to LF to score Laya!

4-0 Ducks after two innings. This is a promising start for Collin Clarke as it appears he has good control today of his changeup pitch...which is hard to hit. Add his fastball and curve-drop, and he has a nice combo of pitches. He gave up a double, but dispensed with the rest of the Nebraska side easily. Jax Gimenez was plinked, and true freshman Brayden Jaksa continues his hot hitting streak with a hit to shallow LF, while Gimenez jets to 3rd! Jaksa steals second, so OUR BELOVED DUCKS have two in scoring position. The Pride of Portland, Ryan Cooney hits his second double to score two runs, as his rifled hit zips to the LF corner. Whew!

2-0 Ducks after one inning. Collin Clarke is the usual Saturday starter for Oregon with a 2.72 ERA, and he put them down in the first inning 1-2-3. The starter for the Cornhuskers, Carson Jasa, is an imposing presence at 6'6" (3.63 ERA) and routinely throws over 95 mph, and can touch 100 mph. Ducks have their hands full! Jasa is prone to walks, and walked Jax Gimenez, and then Brayden Jaksa hit a screamer down the 3rd baseline for a good start. Then Ryan Cooney knocked a big hit to the CF/RF gap to the wall the scored both Gimenez and Jaksa!

OREGON ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2026 BASEBALL | @OregonBaseball Ducks Fight Through Adversity to Win Series Opener EUGENE, Ore. — A dominant start and a dominant re-start were the keys to victory Friday for Oregon baseball. The No. 21 Ducks got six elite innings of work from right-hander Will Sanford, then were the better team coming out of a long mid-game rain delay on the way to a 7-6 win at PK Park over No. 19 Nebraska. Sanford (5-1) provided exactly what the Ducks needed after they’d dropped four of their previous five games. The sophomore scattered seven hits over six innings and struck out a career-high 12 to give Oregon (25-9, 9-4 Big Ten) a series-opening win in a match-up of ranked teams. “I’ve been trying to say this since the beginning of the year, but my job is to set the tone,” said Sanford, who was coming off his first loss of the season. “Even through adversity, I want to keep competing the way I did. I thought I did a good job at that, and it was a good win.” Sanford bounded off the mound with a roar after striking out his 12th batter to end the top of the sixth. With one out in the bottom of the inning, the two teams were sidelined by what ended up being a weather delay that lasted 1:42, but when play resumed Brayden Jaksa and Ryan Cooney hit back-to-back homers that proved to be the difference after a late Nebraska rally. Will Sanford Playing well coming out of a weather delay was something UO coach Mark Wasikowski and his staff have emphasized with this year’s team. It paid dividends Friday. “I told the group, I thought I really did a poor job of that last year as leader of the program, and it was one of the things that was a focal point that I really wanted to address; so did my coaches,” Wasikowski said. “We didn't feel like we came out of rain delays — or played through the rain delays or challenging conditions — very successfully last year. We've really tried to make that adjustment, and so I was pleased with the way they came out. I mean, if we didn't do that, we wouldn't have won.” How It Happened: A leadoff double and a two-out single gave the Cornhuskers a 1-0 lead in the first. They would manage just one more run off Sanford, a solo homer in the fifth. After the trouble in the first, Sanford allowed a single and a walk to open the second. But he retired the next three batters in order, the last two on strikeouts. “Metrically, he's got one of the best — if not the best — fastballs in the country,” Wasikowski said. “And it showed tonight.” The Ducks took a 2-1 lead in the fourth, on a two-run double by Naulivou Lauaki Jr. He struck out on a steady diet of sliders in his first at-bat, then got another on the first pitch of his next at-bat and pounced on it. RS Freshman Naulivou Lauaki Jr. and Drew Smith after his bomb. “Me and Waz have a little saying, ‘hit it through the Pepsi sign,’ right here in right-center,” Lauaki said. “So I was just thinking that, and then he hung a slider and I stayed through it.” After coming two pitches shy of an “immaculate inning” while striking out the side in the fourth, Sanford allowed a leadoff homer in the fifth. He promptly struck out two more in a row to reach 10 strikeouts through five innings, then struck out the last two hitters he faced to make it a dozen. In between, Drew Smith hit his 11th homer of the season in the bottom of the fifth, a two-run shot that made it 4-2 when Sanford returned to the mound in the sixth. After his final strikeout of the game, Sanford turned toward left field and let out a roar, then pivoted back toward Oregon’s dugout and pumped his fist. “His stuff's electric, and he competes like a son of a (gun) out there,” Smith said. “Just a tough, great kid.” The long delay for lightning and rain lasted nearly two hours. When it ended with Oregon batting in the bottom of the sixth, Jax Gimenez doubled with two outs, Jaksa plated him with a two-run homer and Cooney followed with a solo shot for a 7-2 lead. Those insurance runs made all the difference after Nebraska rallied for four runs in the eighth. It might have been worse for the Ducks, but with two outs and runners at the corners, the Cornhuskers tried to steal second, the runner from third broke for home when the Ducks threw down to second, and UO shortstop Maddox Molony gunned down the lead runner at home plate to end the threat. “That readiness and just being prepared mentally was really elite by Maddox Maloney,” Wasikowski said. “Just being in the game mentally at that level is why he's been such a good player for us.” Devin Bell got the last three outs of the eighth to stanch the bleeding in that long inning by the Huskers, then stranded two runners in scoring position in the ninth to earn his eighth save. On Deck: Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday (12 p.m., B1G+).