Charles Fischer

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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).

Yep. What a difference a week makes. But they just got hit in the mouth...how will they come respond? After his meltdown against Cal-Irvine, Devin Bell rescued us with bases loaded against Vanderbilt...and that was after he walked a guy. He gathered himself, and got it done. Ditto for Ryan Featherston today. He was doing great, and then they caught onto him. Give up a triple, and then a homer back-to-back? He sucked it up, and was mentally strong to get the next, and last two outs in the ninth today.

Ducks win 8-7, as Ryan Featherston gave up a triple, and then a two-run HR. But with two outs and full-count on the batter--he generated a line drive that went straight to 1st baseman Miranda for the final out. Whew! We seemed in control most of the game, then pitching would give up a batch of runs. Glad we have an offense!

8-5 Ducks after eight innings. Jack Brooks took a beautiful swing low to hit a dinger over the center-right field wall! Ryan Featherston got the side retired, with help of an incredible play by Ryan Cooney at second to grab a ball off the dirt that bounced off the pitcher's mitt and fire it to first...just barely.

7-5 Ducks after seven innings. We stranded two again...and it seems that Gabe Miranda is at the plate when it is two outs and runners in scoring position and he falters. He was hitting .158 coming into the game, and I think they may have to make a change at first base. Ryan Featherston took care of the side, and it makes you appreciate good pitching!

7-5 Ducks after six innings. Nothing on offense this inning from Oregon. The Oregon pitchers losing control from the game with Beavis...is contagious. Tanner Bradley came in with a 0.00 ERA, and lost his control, as he walked two batters and gave up a three-run homer. He was replaced by Ryan Featherston who got the third out.

7-2 Ducks after five innings. Nothing on offense, but Will Sanford came back in! He gave up a double, but on his 100th pitch...got a strikeout!

7-2 Ducks after four innings. Nothing on offense this inning, and Sanford had real control issues. He walked two batters, plinked another and then walked in a run. He is up to 75 pitches in four innings, so I expect he is done for the day. Gave up his first two earned runs of the year.

7-1 Ducks after three innings! Dominic Hellman blasts a single away from the shift, and then Maddox Molony got a bloop single behind second base. A passed ball moves both runners up, and then the Boilermakers passed Drew Smith to first base. Gabe Miranda walks to score a run, and then Burke-Lee Mabeus hit a GRAND SLAM over the RF fence on a low-to-high swing timed perfectly!

2-1 Ducks after two innings. You have to pardon me...I got behind because I was making my brunch as the game began. Jax Gimenez walks, and Dominic Hellman got an error-double as the center fielder dropped the fly on the run to score Gimenez. Will Sanford put them down easily to finish the first inning. In the second inning, we saw Drew Smith zing a base hit down the 3rd baseline, and then Jack Brooks scorched a hit up the middle to score Smith. Will Sanford began having control issues as he walked two batters, gave up a hit, and a sac-fly scored a run for Purdue.

I prefer..."Old Mountain-West."

Boy...this shoots the hell out of my day! Welcome to Big-10 Baseball Charles, because when they start their games at 4:00 PM...it is just after lunch for us. Purdue is where Coach Waz coached for a few years, so not only does he know Big-10 ballparks well, but he knows this one superbly. Surprisingly...Purdue is a decent team, a team that could beat us if we don't play (or pitch) our best. The Boilermakers are 8-3 as they swept Marist, won a series with Portland, barely lost to No. 11 Southern Miss 5-4 and beat Beavis in a tournament, 5-2. So come ready to play, as their pitcher, Cole Van Assen has an ERA of 4.16 (respectably good) and we counter with our ace, Will Sanford. (ERA of 0.00) Purdue has some really tough relievers, and some others that don't look so hot. I imagine to take a game off of us--they will throw the best relievers at us in the first game? Saturday's game is at 11:00 AM PST, and Sunday at 9:00 AM PST? (Charles...get used to it!) Will Sanford

Really, really good points, and the 13 day layoff answers my concerns about a layoff. 13 is not the 28 days of the past two years....