Charles Fischer

Ducks got it done, winning 10-4! Now if Oregon State beats Arizona tonight, they win the conference and the Wildcats and Oregon tie for second. Since Oregon won the Arizona series earlier this season...Oregon would become the No. 2 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament and second in the final Pac-12 conference season. Cheer for the Bastard Beavers tonight?

Oregon leads 10-4 after eight innings!

The Good-Guys lead 8-4 after six innings!

After five innings, Our Beloved Ducks lead 7-3!

After four innings, Our Beloved Ducks lead 5-3! Gosh...what a sweet swing!

In a big surprise...Oregon will be playing WSU on the Pac-12 Network at noon today! The stakes are high, because we have a real shot at being second in the conference. The game in Tucson is for the conference championship between the Beavers and Wildcats, and I believe OSU gets it done. If so, that could put Oregon at second place if we win today as well. Why is it important? Because Coach Waz says that nearly every time--the second place Pac-12 team hosts a regional NCAA tournament game, and that is a very big deal. C'mon Ducks! Get it done!

Oregon being in on No. 1 players...is just mind-boggling for us veteran Duck fans. Whew!

A great start in the tournament for the women, and they face Oklahoma Saturday at noon, (same time the Baseball team plays) on ESPN!

Because you are not in our spot. You are at the top of CFB, crunching most who dare to step on the field with you. You have the luxury of being nostalgic, having ‘Nattys, and thus can be gracious. If you existed in a conference that was almost invisible to 80% of the population, and then guaranteed to be relegated to permanent lower status forever....you would welcome the move-out, the move-up, even without immediate success. You have no idea how much I've realized the time difference has been real, and Oregon could be on the moon as far as most think in the eastern time zone. We will be top-of-mind this year, as the team we will present will be a challenge to most.

Look how Bryce Boettcher takes on a sidewinder pitcher, and digs it out....for a three-run homer!

Wowsa. It was a pitcher's duel for most of the game as Grayson Grinsell only gave up two runs in six innings. Brock Moore had a tough outing as he gave up two more runs in the top of the eighth, and things looked bad for Our Beloved Ducks down 4-1 going into the bottom of the eighth. Then the Ducks stunned everyone with a miracle eighth inning that scored SEVEN runs, and then Logan Mercado took down the Cougar batters in the 9th...1-2-3 for the win! I will post more when the media press release is available. The throwback uniforms are so cool.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Big Eighth Inning Gives Ducks Series Win and a Top-Three Seed in Pac-12 Tournament EUGENE, Ore. — No. 20 Oregon scored seven runs in the eighth inning to overcome a deficit en route to an 8-4 win over Washington State in Pac-12 Conference action in front of 4,130 fans at PK Park on Friday night. The win clinched the series for Oregon while also guaranteeing a top-three seed in next week’s Pac-12 Conference Tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz. Oregon will either be the two seed or the three seed depending on the Saturday’s results. Either way, the Ducks will open tournament play on Wednesday. WSU (21-31, 9-20 Pac-12) took a three-run lead into the bottom of the eighth inning but Oregon was finally able to get to Cougar starter Connor Wilford in the inning. Drew Smith led off the big inning with a base hit and moved to second when Mason Neville was hit by a pitch. Jacob Walsh delivered a two-RBI double into right-center that rolled all the way to the wall allowing Smith and Neville to score, cutting the lead to one and ending Wilford’s night. Reliever Kaden Wickersham hit Jeffery Heard to put runners on first and second setting up an Anson Aroz sacrifice bunt that moved both runners into scoring position. Freshman Maddox Molony followed with a two-run hit giving Oregon the lead and sending the Cougars to the bullpen again. After Chase Meggers reached on a hit-by-pitch to put two on base, Bryce Boettcher lined a 2-2 pitch over the left-field wall to give Oregon a four-run lead. Logan Mercado came in to get the final three outs and give Oregon (36-16, 18-11 Pac-12) the win. How It Happened: Oregon stole a run in the bottom of the second to take the early lead. With runners at the corners and two outs, Oregon attempted a double steal with Meggers intentionally getting into a rundown. The Ducks’ catcher was able to avoid being tagged out long enough to allow Molony to score. Washington State took the lead with single runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. A solo home run tied the game in the fifth before back-to-back walks in the sixth led to a run on a ground-ball hit up the middle. WSU extended the lead to three in the top of the eighth with a pair or runs before Oregon answered in its half of the inning. Box Score Notes: Oregon’s sellout tied for the sixth-largest crowd in program history while also tying as the largest regular-season crowd to see a game at PK Park … Oregon clinched its eight Pac-12 Conference series of the season … Walsh (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R) moved into third all-time on Oregon’s career RBI list, sixth on the hit list with 17 and into a tie for fourth all-time with Ryon Healy (2011-13) on the career doubles list, while also claiming sole possession of third on the career multi-RBI list and 10th on the multiple-hit list … Oregon starter Grayson Grinsell (6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 11 K) set a career high for strikeouts while matching Kevin Seitter (vs. Lafayette) for the most Ks by a Ducks’ pitcher this season … Brock Moore (4-0) picked up the win despite surrendering two runs in two innings of work. On Deck: The Ducks and Cougars will play the final Pac-12 Conference game ever at PK Park on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. The Ducks will look for their first conference sweep of the season. Quotes: Head Coach Mark Wasikowski On Jacob Walsh’s day... “Really good, you know. I mean, he was the guy that was scuffling and then got a big hit, I think it was yesterday, for three RBI, a base hit up the middle, or a double or something like that. Today he had, what I think was probably the game winning hit. When you’re middle of the order, guys are doing that good with Mason Neville setting him up, and then Drew Smith leading us off. He didn’t have an awesome offensive game, but we got an awesome at bat out of him when we needed it.” On Grayson Grinsell’s start with Scottsdale coming up... “Scottsdale is not in my mind. But Grayson’s start is, and Grayson was really good tonight. He walked those two guys I think in that one inning and one of them scored and it was disappointing. I thought that he could have gone deeper in the game, we could have left him out there, especially with a left-on-left matchup leading the next inning off. Chose not to, because he was at 92 pitches, he had thrown a very good game.” Grayson Grinsell On growing this year… “I’d say maturity. Being around all of the old guys we’ve got: Brad (Mullan), (Logan) Mercado, Brock (Moore), Kevin (Seitter), and RJ (Gordon). All of these old guys we have on the pitching staff, I’ve been watching them every day and how they go about their stuff. I’m just trying to take it all in and grow and mature.” Momentum after today’s quality start… “It definitely helps a lot to build off of. RJ (Gordon) yesterday setting the tone with a quality start as well. We’re just trying to build off it and keep it going tomorrow with Kevin (Seitter).” Bryce Boettcher On adding another PK Park memory with the homer tonight… “There’s a lot of PK Park memories in my mind, but that one is definitely up there.” On hitting the homer after getting two robbed yesterday… “It felt good to get that one over the wall. It’s a plus at-bat when you hit a ball that gets robbed, so it’s good for the team aspect in that regard. You caught a barrel and it’s unfortunate to see it not go over, but in the back of my mind, I know I’ve robbed quite a few homers in my time here. As ‘Waz’ would say, the game knows and on to the next. You just have to keep a good mindset about it.” Maddox Molony On whether confidence grows throughout the game... “Of course. Every at bat I learn from and learn from the next. By the third at-bat, it like, I know what I have to do.” On staying grounded and in the moment... “Just stick to my approach. Like I said, I was just going up there waiting for my pitch to hit and I was on, that was on my head.” Jacob Walsh On getting back into a groove at the plate... “I’m always trying to stick to my approach, tweaking things here and there when the game calls for it. But getting good pitches to hit and put good swings on balls.” On you’re development during time at Oregon... “Just know, baseball is evening itself out. You know, we get tested by the Lord every day. And, you know, being able to just keep going knowing that you’re going to end up positive on the other end is important. As far as you go down, you’re going to have a day where you go right back up, right, and always just even itself out. So just staying to that approach helps you out a lot.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If the Bastard Beavers can win tomorrow, and Our Beloved Ducks win tomorrow, starting at noon....we could finish a strong second place in the Pac-12 after being picked for fourth in the preseason.

Great point. That is not fair, and especially so considering what the viewership will be in total by the end of the season. You will note that I said nothing about my frustration with the Pig-2 stealing 300 million, as that will always irk me. But we will be fine, and our upside is so vast... The Pig-2 are celebrating, as they know what they're doing...

It is an interesting question....are Georgia Bulldog fans going to watch their beloved team, or the Atlanta Falcons if playing at the same time? What about Ohio State fans who are also Browns or Bengal fans? Volunteer fans who are also Titan fans? Tough on Missouri fans vs. KC Chiefs... But I would think the CFB might win out? Although I'm sure Miami residents would rather follow the Dolphins instead of watching Mario being "physical" again...

I am curious if others have gone through the same stages on moving to the B1G as I have? (I am sure you have seen my words of each stage written in this forum) 1. I WANT the Pac-12 to survive....I do NOT want Oregon to play in the "Truck-Stop" conference. 2. OK, I see the doubling of revenue and audience size...but this is WRONG. A century thrown away...this is WRONG, but I will make the best of it. 3. Boy, the Pac-12 deal is looking worse, and the B1G overall benefit is surprising me on the upside. I wish the Pac-12 would work, but Oregon will be OK. 4. Geez, it seems that only if you are in the Big-2 conferences...will you survive and thrive. 5. Wow, the increase in audience and visibility for the Ducks is even more exciting--this is going to be cool to be in a Super-Conference. 6. I can't wait to be a part of it all! Five TV stations and two streaming platforms..."The Duck" is going to be everywhere! 7. I am SO RELIEVED to be part of B1G, and with what Lanning is doing? We are going to kick-butt. I am good with it!

The Pig-2 are scrambling!

That was starting pitcher RJ Gordon jumping with pitching coach Blake Hawksworth above. Oregon State is playing at Arizona, and if the Beavers were to sweep the Wildcats, and Oregon sweeps WSU....then OSU would move into first place, and the Wildcats and Ducks would be tied for second. Since Oregon won the series with Arizona, then that would put Oregon second place. So THAT is what we are playing for, although the odds of sweeping occurring in both series is pretty low.

I would like to think that Oregon will benefit from this by: --More people who stream only will now see Oregon football. We will be visible to millions globally, and with the massive alumni base of our B1G opponents--so many more eyeballs on us. --I would think this is another media contract that will bring revenue to the B1G, of which we will get our share. Even with this, I hardly see television viewing going away.

A pretty big development that will impact Oregon later... Venu Sports announced as brand for ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery joint sports streaming service SPORTS.YAHOO.COM The joint sports streaming service combining ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery programming will be called Venu Sports.

Neville, Gordon lead Oregon to series-opening win over WSU EUGENE, Ore. — Mason Neville homered in both the first and second innings to give No. 20 Oregon an early lead and RJ Gordon did not let Washington State back in the game in the Ducks’ 9-2 Pac-12 Conference win on Thursday night at PK Park. Neville reached base four times going 2-for-3 with two home runs and a career-high five RBI while walking twice and scoring three runs. Gordon (7-4) gave Oregon a strong start holding the Cougars (21-30, 9-19 Pac-12) to two runs on five hits in 6.0 innings of work with six strikeouts. With the win, Oregon (35-16, 17-11 Pac-12) locked up at least a top-four seed in next week’s Pac-12 Tournament. The Ducks can still finish as high as second in the standings. How It Happened: Neville gave the Ducks an early lead lining his 13th home run of the season over the right-field wall in the bottom of the first, a two-run shot after leadoff batter Drew Smith reached on a hit-by-pitch. WSU got one back in the top of the second on a ground ball that Carter Garate dove for and deflected past shortstop Maddox Molony who was in position to make the play. Oregon came right back with a three-run inning in the second, thanks to Neville. After Bryce Boettcher and Smith reached on walks, Neville laced a two-out, three-run home run over the center-field wall for a 5-1 lead. The Ducks made it 6-1 in the third. Jeffery Heard reached on a hit-by-pitch, moved to third on a Molony single through the right side and then scored on a wild pitch. After the Cougars scored a run on a solo homer in the top of the sixth, Oregon added three runs in its half of the inning. Chase Meggers reached on an infield hit before Smith and Neville loaded the bases for Jacob Walsh with back-to-back walks. Walsh responded with a bases-clearing double to center field to put Oregon up by seven. Box Score Notes: Neville’s home runs were his 13th and 14th of the season, moving him into a tie for sixth on Oregon’s single-season home run list … The two-home run game was Neville’s second in the last nine games and he now has six home runs in those nine games … Walsh’s three-run double gave him 128 for his career, tying him with Mitchell Tolman (2013-15) for fourth all-time at Oregon … Gordon’s quality start was his fifth of the season … Gordon picked up his 14th career win. On Deck: The Ducks and Cougars play game two of the series on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Quotes: Head Coach Mark Wasikowski On overall performance... “I thought they played a complete game. Got a good start from RJ Gordon, got some really clutch swings from Mason Neville. Some good at bats lead to Mason having the traffic on the bases to where those home runs counted for more than one run. Then late in the ballgame to have Jacob Walsh extend the lead with that single, the guy had to go for it. You can’t fault their player. The guy made a great effort on the play, and it got away from him. Didn’t make that play and we were able to get three on that big swing from Jacob.” On Mason Neville’s game... “Mason was a top-50 player out of high school, and we fell short in the recruiting battle and that was really disappointing to me. You don’t want to fall short in a recruiting battle, especially when you think you’re the best program to have a young guy like himself come and join. At the time he disagreed, and then he joined us afterwards. I wish my staff and I had another year of development with him. We would have loved to have been a part of that first year out of high school. I think now that we’re getting late in the year, you see how talented he is and the development and the growth that he’s had over the course of the year.” On RJ Gordon’s pitching... “His velocity was back up, it was great to see. I think it wasn’t a season best velocity, but it was up there with the best velo that he’s had all year. That just tells you how strong the kid is. One day short on rest isn’t a big deal for these guys. In the big leagues, those guys are going four days rest and every fifth day they’re getting rolled out there. The college slate is a little bit easier on the arm than it would be in pro ball. He is just a strong kid and he’s worked his tail off to get to a point where he is resilient. Him having the philosophy that he’s had now in some time on one shorter day is a testament to how strong he is and Darrell Hunter’s work in the weight room.” On carrying momentum into Pac-12 tournament... “The complete games will result in the work they’re putting in between games and before games. The practice time leads to what you see in the completeness of the games, so just to continue to do our work the right way.” RJ Gordon Arm strength at the end of the season… “Feels good. Throwing hard and getting my recovery in. I’m doing everything I need to be doing and now it’s just about putting it all together on the field.” How the feeling was on the mound… “It was good. My sole plan today was just to throw hard, to be honest. I did that, it worked out and I don’t have any creeping feelings that I need to get over.” Emotions for the last time potentially on the mound at PK Park… “I haven’t even thought about that yet, to be honest. It’s kind of crazy. Hopefully, it’s not the last time. Hopefully, we find a way to play here again whether its in the Regional or Super Regional. If it was my last time, I am happy I went out there and did what I wanted to. It’s been a hell of a four years so I wouldn’t take anything back.” Mason Neville Biggest developments this year… “I feel like with (Coach Jack) Marder I’ve worked a lot on my swing. He works really hard and I work just as hard I think. We have had little things that we have worked on. Some have worked and some haven’t, but I feel like the biggest thing for me has been the mental side of things. Being able to go out there and flush away striking out or failures and just continue to get better. I feel like the mental side has been very important.” Feelings at the plate… “I feel like we are facing good pitchers still. I just feel like my approach and confidence that I am working on in the cages and at practice is paying off, yet there’s still room for improvement.“

After six innings, the good guys lead 9-2!

Mason Neville is hot, hot HOT! A three-run homer as well!