Charles Fischer

Thank you Mike, as you came up with a very reasonable way to solve this. I realize that the teams are swapped every two years, but I do feel that the East is a bit more top-heavy than the West. I would propose moving Wisconsin to the East, and placing Indiana in the West...not because I want to play them, but because we cannot break up Ohio-State Michigan, and Indiana is closer than Penn State. (I believe the 'Lions will be back as a power immediately) Washington has gone from the ashes of only two returning starters to nine wins in just two years under that bastard Fisch, thus once they get to the final stage and are winning 10 games consistently--that can also help balance the power between the two divisions. Great ponder points--thank you.

OREGON ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2026 BASEBALL | @OregonBaseball Ducks Clinch Series Behind Potent Offensive Attack WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Angel Laya, Drew Smith and Dominic Hellman combined for 11 hits and nine RBI to lead Oregon to a 15-4 series-clinching win over Purdue at Alexander Field on Sunday. Laya, a true freshman, belted a pair of home runs for the second time this season while going 4-for-5 with four RBI and four runs scored. Smith and Hellman also homered with Smith reaching base five times (4-for-4, BB), scoring four times and driving in a pair of runs. Hellman went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI, two runs scored and a walk, finishing a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Cal Scolari (3-0) picked up the win while finishing with eight strikeouts in five innings of work. How It Happened: After not scoring until the eighth inning on Saturday, Oregon got on the board early on Sunday, scoring in the top of the second. Jack Brooks, who had a pair of RBI on Friday, delivered a two-out RBI base hit to score Maddox Molony for a 1-0 lead. Oregon (12-3, 2-1 B1G) tacked on four runs in the top of the third behind four hits that included a double and a home run. Jax Gimenez led off the inning with a hard-hit single to left before coming around to score from first on a Hellman double inside the third-base bag. Smith added to the lead with a two-out base hit in the third to score Hellman from third. Laya followed with a two-run homer into the Ducks’ bullpen beyond the right-field fence. Purdue (9-5, 1-2 B1G) answered with four runs in its half of the inning. After one out free passes on a walk and hit-by-pitch, Aaron Manias fisted one over Smith’s head at third for the Boilermakers first run. Sam Flores followed with an inside-the-park home run scoring three. Flores was able to come all the way around to score after Brooks slammed into the wall hard and stayed on the ground while the runners circled the bags. Angel Laya Oregon came back and added to the lead in the fourth, scoring two more. Back-to-back walks to Brooks and Ryan Cooney set up Hellman for another big at bat. The Ducks designated hitter laced a ball into right-center field to score Brooks. Gabe Miranda followed with a base hit up the middle to plate Cooney for a 7-4 lead. Oregon pushed the lead to five in the top of the fifth. Laya homered again driving in Smith who led off the inning with a base hit. Oregon added three more in the top of the sixth. Hellman and Smith both hit solo home runs to left field, before Burke-Lee Mabeus doubled, scoring Laya from first. Back-to-back singles to open the eighth by Smith and Laya set the table for another three-run inning. Elijah Cook, who entered the game as a pinch runner in the fifth, singled through the right side to score Smith and move Laya to third. Ryan Cooney then doubled into the left-field corner plating Laya and Cook for Oregon’s final runs. Box Score Notes: Oregon moved to 3-0 in weekend series wins this season and now has won 10 consecutive series dating back to April 4-6, 2025 … The Ducks finished with 20 hits, the most since they had 21 on March 6, 2024, vs. Grand Canyon … Oregon homered four times in a game for the third time this season … Laya’s two homers marked the second time this season he has hit a pair of home runs in a game … Hellman extended his reached base streak to 15 with a first inning base on balls, while Smith extended his streak to 15 with a second-inning walk. On Deck: Oregon opens a two-game series against Xavier on Tuesday. First pitch is at 3:05 p.m PST.

It is amazing how a pitcher can just "not-be-on" with a given day. Purdue went through nine pitchers today, as their starter was off his control, and their really good first reliever was having an off-day as well. So..it happens to other teams too!

Ducks win 15-4 on the run-rule after eight innings. Drew Smith beats an infield dribble to first base, and Angel Laya hits to the vacated hole in the opposite field shift. Burke-Lee Mabeus sac-flies to move Smith to third. Elijah Cook comes in to get a hit through the left infield and scores Smith. Ryan Cooney then hits to the left field corner to score two! Miles Gosztola pitched an out, and a walk before Devin Bell came in and finished the inning generating a double play. Run-Rule!

12-4 Ducks after seven innings. Luke Morgan came in to pitch an out, and was replaced by Miles Gosztola, who finished the side. When you're up eight...it is good to get some pitchers some work in this weekend, and allow those relievers who melted down last weekend the chance to get their confidence back.

12-4 Ducks after six innings, as Dominic Hellman blasted a homer into the Purdue Bullpen...and then Drew Smith cratered one over the Boilermaker Bullpen in left field! Angel Laya singles past the SS, and then Burke-Lee Mabeus zips one to the RF corner for a double and scores Laya from first with his jets. Whew! Michael Meckna came in to relieve Cal Scolari, and he creates fly-balls and grounders for three easy outs.

9-4 Ducks after five innings. Drew Smith knocks one up the middle for a hit, and was later advanced to second on a pitch-clock violation. The freshman phenom Angel Laya comes up and hits a two-run home run over the RF wall again! Cal Scolari left them scoreless, as his fastball is a little off today, but his drop-curve has been super. He has 82 pitches after five innings...so I don't know if we will see him in the sixth.

7-4 Ducks after four innings. Jack Brooks walked, as did Ryan Cooney. Then Dominic Hellman nails a short RF shot to score Brooks from second. Gabe Miranda slips one through the infield to score Brooks. Cal Scolari gives up two straight hits, and with no outs...this looked ominous. But he hunkered down and struck out three-straight-batters!

5-4 Ducks after three innings. Jax Gimenez got it started with a hit to short-RF, and then Dominic Hellman hit a screamer-double just inside the left field line to score the speedy Gimenez from first base! Hellman advanced to third base on a sac-fly to move him, and the Drew Smith zings a hit to shallow RF to score Hellman. The incredible freshman, Angel Laya then blows things open with a homer over the RF wall to score two! Unfortunately, Cal Scolari lost some control this inning. He walked and plinked a batter, who then scored later on a bloop single. Another hit went to the wall, and Jack Brooks hit the wall hard trying to catch it, and was dazzled...and collapsed. Thus an in-the-park homer scored three. We have a game.

1-0 Ducks after two innings. Maddox Molony hit an infield dribbler that he outran for the hit. He moved to third on outs, and then Jack Brooks hit a blooper over second base that scored Molony. BTW...the pitcher for Purdue beat Oregon State earlier this season. He has his moments... Oregon's Cal Scolari finished them off 1-2-3, and has a low pitch count of only 19 pitches in two innings. Cool!

0-0 after one inning. Ducks stranded Dominic Hellman on base, and Cal Scolari retired the side, but first gave up a lead-off double. Then he teamed with Maddox Molony to complete a perfect pick-off at second base.

Yesterday showed me why the RBI stat is important; who gets it done when there are runners in scoring position? Today Oregon faces Jarvis Evans of Purdue, ERA of 4.02 and he will face the Ducks Cal Scolari who has an ERA of 0.64, thus this should be another good one!

Internet search engines are your friends.

OREGON ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2026 BASEBALL | @OregonBaseball Ducks Lose a Pitchers’ Duel at Purdue WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Collin Clarke dominated on the mound, but Oregon’s offense stranded 11 runners on base leading to a 2-1 Purdue win on Saturday afternoon at Alexander Field. Oregon (11-3, 1-1 B1G) stranded runners on base in every inning but the seventh, while leaving two runners on base in the second, third, fourth and sixth innings. The first two batters reached in both the third and sixth innings, but the Ducks went down 1-2-3 in both innings after the two reached. How It Happened: Purdue (9-4, 1-1 B1G) got all the offense it needed in the third inning. The first two batters reached on a flare to right field and a hit-by-pitch before the Boilermakers moved them to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Another looping hit to right field drove in both runners for a 2-0 lead. Collin Clarke Clarke (2-1) pitched a complete game in the loss, tossing a career-high eight innings with nine strikeouts and no walks. He retired the last seven batters he faced, nine of the last 10 and 13 of the last 15. He picked off one of the runners that reached during that stretch to end the fifth. Gabe Miranda gave Oregon its only offense, blasting a solo home run to leadoff the eighth. Box Score Notes: Dominic Hellman has reached base in all 14 games this season after a first-inning single, while Drew Smith extended his streak to 14 games with a sixth-inning single … Clarke became the first Ducks’ pitcher to be charged with a loss in a complete game since Grayson Grinsell on May 2, 2025, at Michigan State … The loss snapped the Ducks nine-game Big Ten Conference regular-season winning streak dating back to May 3, 2025. On Deck: The teams will play the rubber match in the three-game series tomorrow. First pitch is at 9:02 a.m. (PT).

Oregon loses 2-1...and guess what? We left a runner stranded in scoring position! Not a game of timely hitting...

2-1 Purdue after eight innings. Collin Clarke came out and pitched his eighth inning with over 107 pitches--and kept them scoreless again. Gabe Miranda hit a homer over the RF wall...and of course we had nobody on base when he did it. Several times earlier in the game...never mind.

2-0 Purdue after seven innings. It is a cold windy day in West Layfayette, and it seems to have impacted our bats? Collin Clarke pitched a short seventh inning.

2-0 Purdue after six innings. Collin Clarke has held up really well; he gave up the two runs, but has seven KOs and gone six innings for Oregon. Oregon has stranded 10...TEN base runners.

2-0 Purdue after five innings. Collin Clarke has got into some trouble, but pulled out of it with tough pitching. Oregon has stranded eight base runners through five innings, hence the goose-egg on the scoreboard.

2-0 Purdue after three innings. Oregon stranded two on base again, and Collin Clarke gave up three hits and plinked a batter to allow the scoring.

0-0 after two innings. Collin Clarke hardly had any pitches to generate a ground-out and two flyballs. Ducks stranded two on base...

Let's plan on having a separate thread for this after the game--others may share their experiences too. Fantastic stuff...

0-0 after one inning. Collin Clarke plinked a guy, got a fly ball to CF, and two strikeouts already. Elijah Cook is playing center field instead of Jack Brooks this game.

Today we face Boilermaker pitcher Zach Erdman, who has a 4.76 ERA, and the most innings pitched on the team coming into this series. Oregon will counter with Collin Clarke on the hill, who has a 2.70 ERA to date. Purdue has a reliever or two who have exceptionally low ERAs left, and I suspect we will see them today. I am expecting a lower-scoring contest this time... My Duck-Buddies: Somewhere around the 3rd inning I will be making my brunch, as the timing is important and I'm not going to disrupt my eating schedule. I am doing intermittent fasting for health benefits, (search in YouTube for information) and when I break my 17-18 hour fast--I gotta eat! So if there is a delay in reporting in the middle of the game--that is why. Let's Go Ducks! Collin Clarke

OREGON ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2026 BASEBALL | @OregonBaseball Ducks Open Big Ten Play with a Win at Purdue WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Burke-Lee Mabeus belted a grand slam while three Oregon pitchers combined to strike out 17 batters helping Oregon hold on for an 8-7 Big Ten Conference win at Purdue on Friday night. Oregon starter Will Sanford (3-0) picked up the win after striking out a career-high eight in 5.0 inning of work while allowing a pair of runs on three hits with four walks. Tanner Bradley struck out three in 0.2 innings of work but struggled with his control walking two, hitting one batter with another reaching base on strike three on a wild pitch. Ryan Featherston came out of the bullpen to get out of a two-on, two-out jam in the sixth inning fanning the first batter he faced to end the inning. After the leadoff runner reached on an error in the seventh inning, Featherston retired the next five batters he faced, four on strikeouts, with the sixth out coming on a caught stealing on the runner who reached in the seventh on the error. A misplayed ball to lead off the ninth was scored a triple with Featherston giving up a two-run homer to the next batter. Not to be phased, he retired three of the next four hitters to pick up his first save of the season. How It Happened: Oregon (11-2, 1-0 B1G) jumped on top early with a run in the top of the first. Maddox Molony picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly scoring Jax Gimenez who reached on a hit-by-pitch before moving to third on a Dominic Hellman double off the center-field wall. The Ducks tacked on a run in the top of the second. Drew Smith led off the inning with a base hit past the third baseman, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and then scored on a Jack Brooks base hit. Purdue (8-4, 0-1 B1G) got a run back in the second on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly, but Oregon answered with five in the top of the third. After the Boilermakers intentionally walked Drew Smith to load the bases with two outs, Gabe Miranda drew a four-pitch walk to make it 3-1. Burke-Lee Mabeus then took the first pitch he saw and lined a 109 mile per hour line drive over the right-field wall for a grand slam and a 7-1 lead. The Boilermakers scored a run in the fourth on a bases-loaded walk and then got a two-out three-run home run against reliever Tanner Bradley to cut the lead to 7-5. Jack Brooks gave Oregon an insurance run in the eighth inning when he belted his first career home run. Box Score Notes: The Ducks have won nine straight Big Ten Conference regular-season games dating back to May 3, 2025 … Ryan Cooney went 0-for-5, which snapped his 12-game hitting and reached base streak … Hellman (3-for-5) and Smith (2-for-3, BB) both extended their reached-base streak to 13 … Mabeus’ grand slam was the second of his career, and the Ducks second of the season … Smith belted Oregon’s first in the George Mason series … Featherston picked up his fifth career save. On Deck: The two teams meet in game two of the series tomorrow. First pitch is at 11:02 a.m. (PT).