Charles Fischer

A good wake-up call for this team…

Holy Crap! When Waz said he felt he had pitching depth this year....I sure had my doubts. But we had more great pitching from newbies, and from a veteran who has progressed. I will have a summary when the press release comes out later at the bottom of the thread. Really nice surprises... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now overall, I have been pleasantly surprised at Oregon's pitching this weekend. We did have two unpleasant surprises in the second game yesterday, but this is how you figure things out and even then...our offense should have been able to outscore the five runs by the Rockets. Thus far we have Grayson Grinsell with a 1.80 ERA after the first weekend, and three other pitchers at 0.00! Today we see a very highly heralded freshman, Will Sanford on the hill, who Coach Waz says has four pitches mastered already. Fun to watch for! Noon on the B1G+ Streaming, and it is a better value than I realized; I'll go into that later this next week. Sign up right here and see over 50 Oregon Baseball games on it!

Ducks set Home Run Record, Split Doubleheader EUGENE, Ore. — No. 19 Oregon belted eight home runs in a doubleheader split, including a school-record seven in game two, against Toledo on Saturday with UO winning game two 9-0 after dropping game one of the twin bill 5-3 at PK Park. Jacob Walsh and Maddox Molony homered twice in the nightcap while Mason Neville went deep in both games of the doubleheader. Anson Aroz and Jeffery Heard each added a home run in the doubleheader finale to help break the Ducks’ school record of six, set in 2023 against Northwestern State and matched last season in a win over Gonzaga. While the Ducks (2-1) got most of their offense from the long ball, Oregon’s pitching staff was dominant for most of the day against Toledo (1-2), with the exception of one inning in the game-one loss. UO held the Rockets to just one run in 17 of the 18 innings played during the day, but a four-run sixth inning in the opener spelled doom for the Ducks. Oregon’s starters, Collin Clarke and Jason Reitz, combined to toss eight scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts and just three walks. Add in an exceptional relief appearance from Ian Umlandt (6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K) and the Ducks’ pitching staff combined to finish the day with 20 strikeouts. Game 1: Toledo 5, Oregon 3 The Ducks were not able to take advantage of Clarke’s dominant start after the sophomore allowed no runs on just three hits with a career-best seven strikeouts. Toledo held the Ducks scoreless until the eighth inning, thanks to some strong pitching from starter RJ Shunck and reliever Logan Danzeisen and some great defense by left fielder Luke Walton that robbed the Ducks of some early runs. How It Happened: Clarke and Shunck battled for five innings each holding the opposing offenses scoreless for five inning before giving way to the bullpen. Collin Clarke Clarke stranded a pair in both the second and third innings before retiring the last nine batters he faced, including four punchouts. Shunk countered by not allowing a base runner in the first three innings, before getting some help from Walton in the fourth. With two runners on, Walton robbed Heard of at least a double that would have plated a pair of Ducks. After removing Clarke after five innings, the Ducks ran into some trouble. Julien Hernandez walked the first two batters he faced before Walsh committed a fielding error on a Toledo sacrifice bunt attempt to load the bases. The Rockets took advantage with a pair of two-RBI singles to build a four-run lead. The Ducks rallied with three runs in the eighth before stranding the tying run on third after putting the runner on third with just one out. Neville led off the inning with his first home run of the day before three straight walks loaded the bases with no outs. Back-to-back wild pitches cut the lead in have and then Heard grounded out to first scoring Walsh to cut the lead to 4-3. A strikeout and a ground out left Aroz, the potential tying run, at third. The Ducks’ went down in order in the ninth allowing Toledo to even the series at 1-1 heading into game two. Game 2: Oregon 9, Toledo 0: The Ducks hit seven solo home runs while scoring in six consecutive innings and Reitz and Umlandt combined on a four-hit shutout to help Oregon split the two games. Reitz made his first start as a Duck, after transferring from Saint Mary’s, and he showed why he is regarded as a potential high MLB Draft pick. The 6-foot-9 righty fanned five over the first two innings before getting out of a third-inning jam. Umlandt (1-0) took over in the fourth and proceeded to retire the first eight batters he faced, as well as 10 of the first 11, 14 of the first 16 and 18 of 21 overall. He fanned eight in the process, one shy of matching his career high. Oregon got the offense going early scoring a run in both the second and third innings, two runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings before adding one in the sixth and two more in the seventh. Molony hit his first homer of the day to get the Ducks on the board in the second, a two-out shot over the left-field wall. Drew Smith made it a two-run game with a sacrifice fly to the left-field wall that scored Ryan Cooney. UO made it 4-0 in the fourth inning on a Heard homer and a Burke-Lee Mabeus sacrifice fly, the first ribbie in the freshman catcher’s career. A pair of homers from Neville and Walsh in the fifth made it a six-run game, before Molony’s second home run of the game in the sixth gave UO a 7-0 lead. Jacob Walsh Walsh and Aroz hit back-to-back bombs in the seventh, with Walsh’s giving him home runs in consecutive at-bats, to make it 9-0. Doubleheader Notes: Oregon has hit four-of-more home runs 15 times in the Mark Wasikowski era, including five-or-more four times and six-or-more three times … Walsh, who has three home runs in the series, ran his career school record to 43 HRs … Walsh has six two-homer games during his career … Molony hit two home runs in a game for the second time in his career … Both of Oregon’s true freshman catchers made their career debuts in the doubleheader with Coen Niclai getting the start in game one behind the dish and Mabeus making the start in game two … Niclai got his first career hit in his second career AB in the fifth inning of game one … Mabeus drove in his first career run in the fourth with a sacrifice fly and then added his first career hit, a bunt single in the sixth before adding his second hit in the eighth … Freshman Gabe Howard (3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K) made his collegiate career debut out of the pen in the first game … On Deck: The two teams wrap up their four-game series with a 12:05 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. Quotes: Head Coach Mark Wasikowski Thoughts on splitting the doubleheader… “I thought we finished strong. We got some good starting pitching out of both starters that threw today. I thought Collin [Clarke] in the first game was really good, and I thought Jason [Reitz] was really good as well. Our relief pitching in the second game was really good. We swung the bats a lot better in the second game. The first game, I think, was the coaching staff’s fault. We obviously didn’t look like we were very well prepared in about the sixth inning of that game, when we could have probably flipped that inning pretty easily after it started poorly with a couple of walks. We didn’t execute some of the things that are probably our responsibility as coaches. We didn’t teach it well enough to where we could execute. It was simple bunt situations, bunt defense situations where we should be able to do some things right there and minimize innings, and we didn’t.” On Collin Clarke’s performance in game one… “I thought Clarke pitched really well. I thought he had a couple of jams that he pitched out of and very effectively. I thought he pitched very well down to the strike zone. I liked what I saw.” On Ian Umlandt’s relief pitching in game two… “He’s got a lot of different speeds of pitches and a lot of things cutting and running. He threw six innings and 67 pitches, and he was effective. He got ahead of hitters and then made them swing at the pitches that he wanted them to swing at, and contact was weak. He really gave us everything we could have asked of him and more.” Ian Umlandt On six scoreless and eight strikeouts… One pitch at a time, it’s kind of a motto we’ve embodied. It’s continuing to just stay on the attack, not falling behind on counts, and no walks. That was a big thing for me and my mindset. On working with Burke-Lee Mabeus as a catcher… “He killed it. I don’t think there’s an unfamiliarity of the relationship we have, but I thought he killed it. He brings an incredible amount of energy, and that’s something for him that’s extremely authentic. It’s a blast to throw too him because it’s just energy and true joy when he’s out there. It’s a blast for him, which makes my job so much more enjoyable and easier.” Mason Neville Mason Neville On two home run day... “The swing is coming along. The team really caught fire during that second game, that happened a lot during the winter and fall, so it was good to see that.” On hitting lead-off... “I like the position. I have the confidence to go out there and try to give a good at bat that first at bat of the game and set the tone. That’s the role they like me in as of right now and throughout the fall. I like to embrace it and move forward hopefully batting leadoff in the future.” On message to hitters between games... “It was just to get back on our approach. Losing two-strike counts, a lot of strikeouts, or just kind of uncompetitive at bats during that first game. We just kind of flushed it and moved on and got back to what we do best. I think that showed the second game.” Maddox Molony On infield performance... “We’re all very athletic people, and we’re versatile, we train that way. It’s cool seeing the guys that I work with every day have success.” On hitting approach... “It just kind of came to me. I have an approach when I’m going to be on time for a fastball. I was, and I saw spin and I just hit it.” On pitching performances... “I think they filled up the zone and they executed their pitches. It was impressive to watch, and it makes it a lot easier at shortstop.”

I completely agree, but I am grateful that in his years here--he elevated Coach Terry a ton I'm sure.

Ian Umlandt held Toledo scoreless for six innings, and was so efficient! 9-0 was the fina!

9-0 Oregon after seven innings! In the seventh inning we see Ian Umlandt have SUCH control as he erases three batters in only eight pitches. Whew! Twelve batters gone with 40 pitches…I like this Oregonian! Good gosh, Jacob Walsh hit maybe the longest home run ever at PK Park, as it cleared PAST and over the training facility. Then Anson Aroz sets the Duck record of seven home runs in a game, as he puts over the center field fence! Remember, this is on a cold day!

After six innings Oregon leads 7-0! In the sixth, Ian Umlandt keeps the Rockets scoreless again, as he has destroyed nine batters in only 32 pitches! Then Maddox Molony sends a bomb to the left corner to make it 7-0.

6-0 Ducks after five innings! Ian Umlandt has zapped six batters now in only 14 pitches! Good gosh, Mason Neville blasted another homer with a beautiful swing. Then Jacob Walsh shows bunt twice, then hits a dinger to the opposite field!

4-0 Ducks after four innings! For the fourth inning we have the pride of Sherwood Oregon, in Ian Umlandt pitching. He dispatched the three hitters in just six pitches! Jeffrey Heard had been robbed a couple of times over the weekend, but he got a homer to extend Oregon’s lead. Maddox Molony gets a hit, then steals second and takes third on a wild pitch. Burke-Lee Mabeus blasts a sacrifice fly to score Molony and the Ducks are going again!

2-0! Ducks after three innings.

1-0 Ducks, after two innings from a Maddox Molony bomb. In the second inning we see Reitz put them down quickly, and he has an incredible five strikeouts in only two innings. We have BurkeLee Mabeus starting at catcher, as he is highly heralded freshman from powerhouse Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas.

Seven homers in one game! See videos and game summaries at the bottom of this thread. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0-0, after the first inning as the Ducks are still in a hitting funk. Jason Reitz, the 6’9” transfer from St. Mary’s threw 94 to 99mph in the first inning for Oregon for no runs. He has a 84mph change up, and a curve.

Gabe Howard is pitching the ninth, and gave up a run to make it 5-3 Rockets before finishing the side. Toledo pitching was awesome and stops the Oregon offense to win. Second game at 2:30 PM.

Eighth inning; Mason Neville homers, then between a base hit and two walks, Oregon had bases loaded and no outs. A wild pitch scores another! Heard hits to first, and a third run scores! But that is it, 4-3 Toledo, after eight innings.

It is still 4-0 Toledo after seven innings. Freshman Gabe Howard took over on the mound, the former No. 2 player in the state of Oregon last year. (West Linn) He’s got a fastball and a nice curve. He also had much better body language, better poise than the other two pitchers who appeared to be rattled in their first appearance for Oregon. He put out his first three batters to quickly end the top of the inning.

4-0 Rockets…whew! Oregon relievers really letting us down. Taking over on the mound is Julian Hernandez, a transfer from Whitman who had a 2.4 ERA last year. Nice beard…is throwing 93mph on a cold day. But he walked two after getting to full count both times, then a fielding error loaded the bases. A base hit scored two for the Rockets, and Washington transfer Sam Boyle took over pitching for the Ducks. He gave up a base hit that scored two more… Gotta get the bats going!

0-0 after five innings The freshman catcher from Alaska, Coen Niclai, got his first hit in college, but that Rocket pitcher is really good. Collin Clarke put NINE batters down in a row, with seven strikeouts! No runs on Clarke this game!

0-0 after four innings, but Oregon had two hits in the inning, and was poised for more with a great hit by Jeffrey Heard. But a sensational catch by the Rocket outfielder saved two runs… Collin Clarke has good stuff, and I’m pleasantly surprised as he dispatched the Toledo batters 1-2-3 this inning. This Duck has four pitches, and although he doesn’t show it much, but he has a sneaky curveball. He also has a fastball, change up, and a slider.

0-0 after three innings. Clarke gave up two hits and base runners again, but got out of it again!

0-0 after two innings, as the Rocket pitcher has the Ducks stymied. Collin Clarke gave up hits with runners on second and third, and no outs! But he generated a fly-out, and two strikeouts to rescue the inning. Changes in the lineup today are Dominic Hellman at DH, Anson Arroz at LF. Catcher today is heralded freshman Coen Niclani, who passed up being drafted in the MLB 15th round to come to Eugene. Drew Smith is back at second!

I do like to listen to Coach Waz in a radio discussion on the GoDucks.com phone app, where a 15-20 minute pregame is done with an interview with Waz before each game. Do sign up right here for the B1G+ streaming to watch 60 Oregon Baseball games this spring; what a deal! And today's starter, Collin Clarke, is a big surprise to me, as he did not have great stats last year, (6.41 ERA) and I would have thought that other pitchers would have been the Saturday starter. But obviously he must have improved, and I look forward to watching him. RHP, Collin Clarke The second game of the double-header will probably start around 3:00 PM...

Opening Day a Success at PK Park EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon baseball came into 2025 wanting to prove it was a well-rounded club that could beat opponents in multiple ways. In Friday’s opening game of the season, the Ducks indeed looked strong in all facets. The Ducks got a dominant start from Grayson Grinsell, solid relief pitching, clean defense and production up and down the lineup to beat Toledo on opening day at PK Park, 9-2. Oregon jumped out to an early lead, weathered a tie score through the middle innings and then broke things open late to win the first of four games at PK Park this weekend. “One day trying to play clean baseball, we did it,” UO coach Mark Wasikowski said. “And I think that was a good product we put out there tonight. It was just complete.” Grinsell, one of the top starting pitchers in the country entering the season, allowed only a game-tying solo homer in the second over five innings, striking out seven with two walks. Ryan Featherston (1-0) and Seth Mattox combined to allow one unearned run the rest of the way, while UO career home run leader Jacob Walsh bashed his first of this season on a day eight of the nine starting position players had at least one hit. How It Happened: A single to right field by Mason Neville, a single to left by Drew Smith and a base hit up the middle by Walsh gave Oregon the lead just three batters into the season. Grinsell allowed the homer to tie it in the second, but he bounced back and kept it tied 1-1 through five innings. “Definitely a confident feeling, knowing that they trust me to come here on opening day and come out and just do what I do and attack the zone,” Grinsell said. “Definitely tried to just go out there and set the tone for what the other team should be expecting from the other three starters this weekend.” Grayson Grinsell After Smith reached on an error in the bottom of the sixth, Walsh followed with home run No. 41 of his career. It was a high fly hit the other way to left field, putting the Ducks up 3-1. “I've taken a lot of ABs here, and I've learned a lot of things,” Walsh said of the maturity he showed with the first-inning single and opposite-field homer. “Just using that and trying to spread that around the team, help everyone out.” A passed ball allowed a run to score in the top of the seventh, bringing Toledo back within 3-2. But the Ducks weren’t done hitting. Jack Brooks led off the bottom of the seventh with a double, and an infield single by Ryan Cooney put runners at the corners with nobody out. Carter Garate followed with a double to score Brooks, and a sacrifice fly by Neville plated Cooney for a 5-2 lead. Oregon then added on again in the eighth, after Mattox threw his first of two shutout innings of relief. The first three batters of the inning reached, with Maddox Molony scoring on an error and Brooks coming home on a balk. An RBI double by Neville scored Cooney, and Smith followed with a single to drive in Neville. Mattox closed out the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning, striking out the final batter to give the UO staff a dozen strikeouts on the day. On Deck: The two teams meet Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.