Charles Fischer

Oregon plays Liberty in Seattle-- And if the Ducks win...we get our old Pac-12 Rival Arizona... You can see the full bracket right here....

OK...the game is moved again to 5:20 PM, which means the probability of rain simply declines, but does not change much. I personally do not know how they could play, as it is a steady pouring rain where the pitchers mound would be a muddy-mess in less than two innings. Oregon has played games where it is a massive downpour for a while, but this is pretty steady with big drops. A winter kind of day... Grayson Grinsell in the rain last year...

This is a great idea, as portal transfers in Baseball will be looking at NIL numbers, and a typical Baseball team has 35 members, but there are only 11.7 scholarships available per NCAA rules. Donors launch business entity to support Oregon baseball program scholarships, NIL funding WWW.OREGONLIVE.COM Diamond Ducks has a goal of funding additional baseball scholarships and create more streams to support funding of NIL for players.

Good gosh the rain looks like it is going to go on ALL-DAY according to the weather reports, but the chances of skies clearing improve into the afternoon, so the gametime is moved from noon to 2:00 PM PST at PK Park. This is for a sweep, and I am not sure if Oregon has ever started a conference season before doing this, so it would be special. Plus...with our RPI, we need to win every game we can for Playoff seeding later.

SIDEARM Integrations GODUCKS.COM The Ducks scored 47 of their 55 points on day two of the national meet.

Clarke Dominates, Ducks Clinch Series with Minnesota EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon starter Collin Clarke outdueled Minnesota starter Kyle Remington on Saturday leading the No. 9 Ducks to a 4-2 series-clinching Big Ten Conference win at PK Park. The two starters allowed just one unearned run each through the first six innings before Oregon (17-3, 5-0 Big Ten) finally got its offense going. Clarke (2-0) picked up the win allowing just the one unearned run while matching career highs in strikeouts (8) and innings pitched (7.0). The Ducks’ sophomore retired the side in order three times, in the first, fourth and sixth innings, while fanning a pair of hitters in the same inning twice. How It Happened: The teams exchange unearned runs over the first six innings. After Minnesota scored on a Ducks’ throwing error in the third, Oregon answered with an unearned run of its own in the fifth. Ryan Cooney reached on an error on the Gophers’ shortstop and moved to third on a Carter Garate looping opposite field double into shallow left field. Mason Neville picked up the RBI with a sacrifice fly scoring Cooney to tie the game. Oregon took its first lead in the bottom of the seventh scoring a pair of runs. Jeffery Heard doubled to lead off the inning, before Jack Brooks pinch ran for him. Cooney doubled down the left-field line scoring Brooks, before moving to third on a Garate sacrifice bunt. Neville followed with a single to right for his second RBI of the day and a two-run Oregon lead. Oregon pushed the lead to three in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Ducks loaded the bases before Cooney drew a walk for his second run batted in and a 4-1 lead. Minnesota (7-10, 1-4 Big Ten) added a run in the top of the ninth, but Ryan Featherston got Jake Perry to ground into a game-ending double play with Cooney tagging the runner out before tossing to first for the final out. Box Score Notes: With the series clinching win, Oregon has now won all five weekend series this season … Oregon had its streak of consecutive games with a home run snapped at seven … Neville extended his hitting streak to 13 games, while Cooney pushed his hitting streak to 12 games … Cooney has now reached base in 19 straight games … Clarke’s quality start is his team-leading third of the season. On Deck: Oregon will look for the series sweep on Sunday when the Ducks and Gophers meet. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. Collin Clarke Quotes: Head Coach Mark Wasikowski On team’s overall performance... “Yeah, tough elements, and they battled through it and played another clean game. You know, really excited of the effort that they were able to throw out there with the conditions, especially early in the game, were really tough. They were able to just kind of hang with it and then find a way to get it done there at the end of the game.” On Collin Clarke’s performance... “Really good, like, really good. In command of the game the whole time, extended the start through seven innings, which is great. We haven't been able to get that done consistently at all, and we're calling to be able to go seven strong innings like that is really big for our pitching staff.” On Minnesota’s starters performance... “He probably did it a little bit of a different way, but still, his strike percentage was close to 70% with his pitches, and he was getting it under the string when he needed to. And it was a fun game to watch. It was a pitcher's duel, and both kids really battled.” On Ryan Cooney bouncing back defensively.. “Well, he was resilient, right? For me, I think it was really challenging. Early in the game when all that stuff is going on and I just thought, Ryan's toughness to be able to do what he did as the game progressed, he was a critical piece to win.” Ryan Cooney On consistency at bottom of the lineup… “I think it’s awesome, especially for Heard today with that back side double which really sparked us. And then Carter and I do our best to turn the lineup over because we have those big hitters up top. I think we’re just consistent down there and that’s what helps.” On hitting approach…. “I think I’ve matured in my approach overall and physically matured as well, but mostly the approach thing. Not swinging at a ton of bad pitches like I did last year and working with the coaches as well.” On Collin Clarke’s performance… “Confidence. I think that he’s developed not only his stuff, but his confidence. Every time he goes out there, he competes really, really hard and it’s really easy to play behind him.” Mason Neville On batting first with support from bottom of lineup… “It’s awesome having the opportunity to start the game off and put a big statement out there with the lead off at-bat is awesome. But coming up the second time with some guys on base is what you want. Kudos to them, they’re dominant right now at the bottom of the lineup. They’re grinding out at-bats and getting on base whatever way they can.” On offensive performance… “We definitely have the power, but you’re not going to hit home runs every game. You have to find ways to get hits, especially when the wind is blowing in pretty hard. Can’t try to get too big and pop the ball up and make easy outs for them. Just got to keep the ball low and try to put good swings on the ball. Being able to hit and not rely on home runs is huge. It shows a complete offense in my opinion.” On momentum after Grand Canyon series… “I think we built pretty well. To come out here and battle the game and battle these conditions. Yes, we have power, but we can hit too and control an offense. I think that’s huge.” Collin Clarke On pitching consistently… “I think I always had the consistency, but pitch wise, I wasn’t always there. Putting in the work this fall really helped that. On energy with Burke-Lee Mabeus after final two outs… “It’s awesome, I mean that’s what I play for. It’s just that kind of competitiveness from the both of us. Nothing feels better to be honest.” On competition on rainy days… “I would say it drives me every time. Even today, when the other pitcher is doing well too. It was pretty close.”

Thank you Bruce, for all the great news. A good day to be a Duck!

The B1G has to be pretty pleased with adding Oregon....

Our Beloved Ducks went out and BURIED the competition!

We're so lucky to have Bruce writing about this in advance, and keeping us up to date. Incredible! An EIGHTH 'Natty for the Women of Oregon!

Ducks WIN 4-2 on a spectacular double play by second baseman, and The Pride of Portland, Ryan Cooney! He fields the grounder, tags the runner going to second, and fires to first in time for the final out! Annie was right, as it rained continuously through the game. It created errors and bad pitches, but WE ARE DUCKS!

4-1 Ducks after eight innings! Now it is up to Ryan Featherston to finish it...

Well, I was of little faith as Duck reliever Ryan Featherston put the Gophers down 1-2-3 in the inning. Both Oregon starting pitchers have been superb this weekend by not allowing a single earned run. Grayson Grinsell was superb yesterday, and Collin Clarke was impressive today. Our Beloved Ducks are up to bat for the bottom of the eighth inning!

3-1 Ducks after seven innings! We see the Minnesota pitcher wear down and get replaced, while Oregon got some timely hits to create a lead! Now...can Ryan Featherston hold off the Gophers?

Still 1-1 after six innings, as Oregon's Collin Clarke has been awesome, but so has the Minnesota pitcher been dealing.

1-1 after five innings, as errors create scoring. Yesterday, Oregon got a four run inning initiated by a Minnesota throwing error, while the Gopher run today was brought about by a Duck infield throwing error. Then the Gopher shortstop drops a routine ground ball, and the runner ends up scoring for the Ducks on a sacrifice fly. Collin Clarke has been nails thus far for Mighty Oregon, but he is up to 82 pitches...

No change after four innings, as the Golden Gopher pitcher has been superb.

1-0 Minnesota after three innings on an unearned run. Damn! SGO Ducks!

Game summary is at the bottom of the thread! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0-0 after two innings. Oregon starting pitcher Collin Clarke looks sharp thus far. Let's win the series in the rain...after all, we are the Ducks!

Grein Shuts Out UW, 9-0, to Open Big Ten Play SEATTLE – Katie Flannery homered twice and drove in five runs to back a dominant pitching performance by Lyndsey Grein as No. 8 Oregon opened Big Ten play with a 9-0, six-inning defeat of Washington in front of 1,462 Friday at Husky Softball Stadium. “I think it's important that we can handle the road,” said coach Melyssa Lombardi, whose Ducks shut out Washington in Seattle for the first time since 2011 . “This is a tough venue to play at.” Grein struck out 11 – one shy of her career high – and allowed only two hits. She has not allowed a run in her last four starts. Rylee McCoy hit her team-leading 10th home run of the season. “It's awesome for us,” said Flannery. “We're seeing everybody work, and all cylinders were working for us today. “Lyndsey was amazing. Our hitting was great and our defense had their backs. Seeing all of that, especially in an away game, is awesome.” How It Happened: The Ducks (25-2, 1-0) scored in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings. Kedre Luschar’s double in the second inning that extended her hitting streak to 14 games helped give the Ducks a 1-0 lead. McCoy led the inning off with a single before Luschar’s double chased McCoy around to third. She scored on Stefini Ma’ake’s sacrifice fly. The Ducks added three more runs in the top of the third. With Kai Luschar on base, Katie Flannery drove a pitch out to right center. Her fifth homer of the season made it 3-0. McCoy kept the inning going with a double – her second hit of the game – and scored on Kedre Luschar’s single into center for a 4-0 advantage. “Rylee was taking good swings at the plate,” said Lombardi. “I feel like Rylee is continuing on with what she's been doing all year.” The Huskies (20-8, 0-1) threatened in the bottom of the third with two on and two out. But Grein struck out Alexis DeBoer, D1 Softball’s reigning player of the week, on a swinging strike three. “Our mindset is start fast, stay fast, finish fast so I kind of take a similar approach pitching,” said Grein. “Just get the first out and build off of that and work for my defense.” Oregon hit back-to-back home runs to make it 7-0 in the top of the fifth. Paige Sinicki led the inning off with a single before Flannery deposited her second home run of the game over left field on a hop into Lake Washington. McCoy followed with a drive out to center field. Grein walked a pair of batters with one out in the fifth, but stuck out Ava Carroll and got DeBoer to fly out to left to end the inning. The Ducks put the run rule in effect with a pair of bases loaded walks in the sixth inning. Flannery walked on a 3-1 pitch that forced in Ayanna Shaw for her fifth RBI of the game. McCoy, the next batter, walked on four straight pitches to force in Kaylynn Jones with the Ducks’ ninth run of the game. McCoy and Kai Luschar both had three hits on Friday, while Flannery and Kedre Luschar had two hits. Notable: The Ducks’ 25-2 start matches the program’s best 27-game record since going 27-2 to open the 2021 season … Kedre Luschar’s 14-game hitting streak is the longest by a Duck since Allee Bunker hit in 18 straight in 2022 … Kai Luschar stole one base to increase her season total to 31. That’s tied for seventh with Janie Takeda for seventh on the UO single-season list … It was Flannery’s first career two-homer game … Sinicki made her 156th consecutive game at shortstop … Rosa extended her hitting streak to a career-best seven games with a sixth inning single. Quotable: Infielder Katie Flannery on the performance of starting pitcher Lyndsey Grein “Every time she takes the mound, I'm just in awe. She's a different person and I just love playing behind her.” Up Next: Oregon plays Washington on the Big Ten Network Saturday at noon.

Top-Three DMR Finishes at NCAA Indoor The UO women have eight scoring chances on day two of the national meet. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Women of Oregon finished second in the distance medley relay Friday at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships, and the UO men broke the school record to finish third in the DMR to close out day one of the national meet. The Oregon women carry eight points into Saturday’s finals with eight chances to score. In addition to those who advanced to finals, the Ducks will have an early opportunity with Ryann Porter in the triple jump and Jaida Ross in the shot put. Silan Ayyildiz, already into the mile final, is also entered at 3,000 meters. The Ducks will also be represented by Matthew Erickson in Saturday’s final of the men’s 800 meters. Making his debut at the NCAA Indoor meet, the UO senior was the fastest overall qualifier with a new lifetime best of 1:46.11. Erickson moves to No. 2 on the program’s all-time indoor list with a time that doubles as the fastest ever run during the prelims in NCAA Indoor Championships history. Into the #NCAATF Finals Silan Ayyildiz – mile Matthew Erickson – 800 meters Jadyn Mays – 60 & 200 meters Aaliyah McCormick – 60 hurdles Wilma Nielsen – mile Women’s track finals start at 12 p.m. PT with the men to follow at 3 p.m. Both sessions will stream on ESPN+. The team of Wilma Nielsen, Ella Clayton, Ella Nelson and Silan Ayyildiz combined for a time of 10:45.99 in the final event of the women’s session. The time secured a national runner-up finish in the DMR and made the quartet the second fastest in UO history. Nielsen and Ayyildiz were doubling back from heats in the mile earlier Friday afternoon. The top four teams—BYU, Oregon, Providence and LSU—were all faster than the previous meet record of 10:50.98 set by Tennessee in 2009. The Men of Oregon closed out the evening session with a school-record performance and bronze finish in the distance-medley relay. Tomas Palfrey, Fuad Omer, James Harding and Elliott Cook clocked a time of 9:17.57, shaving nearly two seconds off the previous UO standard of 9:19.42 set in 2021. The outing also moves Oregon to No. 7 on the all-time collegiate list. Five teams—Virginia, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas A&M and BYU—bettered the previous meet record of 9:19.98 set by the UO DMR of Reed Brown, Xavier Naire, Charlie Hunter and Cooper Teare at the 2021 indoor meet. In the Ducks’ first event of the day, Nielsen and Ayyildiz were the first and third fastest, respectively, in the opening round of the women’s mile. Both ran in heat two with Nielsen crossing in 4:34.17 followed by Ayyildiz in 4:34.76, securing their spots in Saturday’s final (12:00 p.m., ESPN+). Mia Barnett posted a time of 4:37.37 in heat one but did not advance. This will be Nielsen’s first NCAA mile final but third overall having been a finalist in the 800 the last two years at Bradley and Washington. Ayyildiz, making her third NCAA Indoor appearance, is into the finals for the first time. Aaliyah McCormick, the Big Ten champion in the 60-meter hurdles, will run for a national title Saturday after equaling her lifetime best of 7.97 in the prelims. She won heat one with a strong close off the last hurdle and finished with the second-fastest time in qualifying. McCormick is into her third NCAA Indoor final. The women’s 60 hurdles final is set for Saturday at 12:40 p.m. PT. Pulling sprint double duty, Jadyn Mays was 2-for-2 with advancing efforts in the 60 and 200 meters. In each event, she ran the third fastest qualifiers of 7.13—a season’s best—and 22.59, respectively. Mays will line up for the 60 final at 12:10 p.m. PT and then return to the track about 40 minutes later for the 200. This is Mays’ third-consecutive season advancing to the final of both sprint events. Running in his first race since Feb. 1, redshirt freshman Simeon Birnbaum made his NCAA Indoor debut with a 4:09.64 in the heats of the mile and did not advance. He wraps his first collegiate indoor season with a lifetime best of 3:52.81—and No. 4 performer at UO—from the Razorback Invitational. NCAA Indoor Championships (Virginia Beach, Va.) – Day One MEN 800 Meters – prelims 1. Matthew Erickson – 1:46.11Q (PB, UO #2) --. Koitatoi Kidali – DNF Mile – prelims 16. Simeon Birnbaum – 4:09.64 Distance Medley Relay 3. Palfrey/Omer/Harding/Cook – 9:17.57 (UO #1) [6 points] WOMEN 60 Meters – prelims 3. Jadyn Mays – 7.13Q (SB) 200 Meters – prelims 3. Jadyn Mays – 22.59Q Mile – prelims 1. Wilma Nielsen – 4:34.17Q 3. Silan Ayyildiz – 4:34.76Q 12. Mia Barnett – 4:37.37 60m Hurdles – prelims 2. Aaliyah McCormick – 7.97Q (=PB) Distance Medley Relay 2. Nielsen/Clayton/Nelson/Ayyildiz – 10:45.99 (UO #2) [8 points]

Ducks Open Minnesota Series with a Win EUGENE, Ore. — No. 9 Oregon scored five early runs and then held off Minnesota 5-2 in Big Ten Conference action on Friday night at PK Park. The Ducks (16-3, 4-0 Big Ten) got a strong start from Grayson Grinsell (3-1) and strong relief outings from Jason Reitz and Cole Stokes in the win. Grinsell tossed five scoreless innings while striking out seven and walking just one. Reitz allowed a pair of seventh inning runs but struck out three in three innings of work. Stokes came out of the pen with the tying run at the plate in the top of the ninth and proceeded to retired three of the four batters he faced, who via strikeout, to pick up his second save. How It Happened: Oregon took the early lead scoring four runs in the second inning. Jacob Walsh led off the inning with a walk before moving to second on a wild pitch and then scored on an Anson Aroz double off the right-center field wall. Two hit-by-pitches loaded the bases and then Oregon added its second run on an error by Minnesota (7-9, 1-3 Big Ten) second baseman Easton Richter. Dominic Hellman drew a bases loaded walk to make it 3-0, before Chase Meggers delivered an RBI infield single. Maddox Molony made it a five-run game with a solo home run in the third, his sixth of the season and first since hitting two homers in game on of a doubleheader against Columbia on March 1. Box Score Notes: Molony’s third-inning home run snapped a streak of 10 consecutive home runs by either Neville or Hellman dating back to an Aroz home run in game two of the Columbia doubleheader on March 1 … Grinsell’s seven strikeouts brings his career total to 199 … Maddox, Aroz and Cooney all finished with two hits. On Deck: Oregon and Minnesota will meet in game two of the series with an 11:05 a.m. first pitch at PK Park. The game time has been moved up three hours to avoid forecasted rain showers in the afternoon. Ducks in Flight... Quotes: Head Coach Mark Wasikowski On Grinsell and Reitz pitching on Fridays… “We started the year with four straight weeks of four-game sets. Jason was a starter at that time, and he is really good. We view it by throwing two starters on a Friday night. With Jason coming out of the pen today, I thought the conditions got really tough out there. That probably took its toll a little bit more than it normally would on a dry day.” On Aroz’s improvement at the plate… “Recently, Coach Marder and Aroz have been spending a lot of time together, so I would give Marder a lot of the credit for Aroz’s effort. They get along great, and they’ve been putting in a lot of time together at practice to be able to get himself right. Nobody knows a swing better than Coach Marder, and they’ve been grinding it out in the cage. That’s probably what you’re starting to see click a little bit, so credit to both of those guys.” On Cooney proving himself… “It just seems like he plays really good defense, and he gives you really competitive at-bats. He doesn’t hit as many home runs as some of the other guys, but you can argue that his productivity at the plate is equally as good, if not even better than anybody. He’s played well, and he is just a different type of player than some of the other kids. Dom Hellman brings his strengths to the table, and Mason Neville brings his; everybody has a bit of their own game. Ryan’s game is a solid, complete game. He’s a good baseball player, and he is one of our clubhouse leaders.” Grayson Grinsell Grayson Grinsell On Pitching in the rain… “I mean, both teams, obviously we're both playing the same weather, so it's not going to affect either of us any differently. So, just kind of go out there and treat it like I would if it was 75 and sunny.” On Impact of a four-run inning… “Not much. You know, just same as if we scored one, just go out there and try to give the guys behind me a shutdown and keeping the momentum on our side of the field.” Anson Aroz On impact of starting the day 2-for-2… “I mean, you just walk in the box feeling pretty good. The goal is to feel that way every time. I think if you asked any of our hitters, they'd say the same thing. But, you know, naturally, when you've had success. It kind of continues to keep rolling.” On steps towards becoming an everyday left fielder… “I think it's just mentality. I mean, the guys before me set the tone, you know, playing with a guy like Boettcher last year, seeing the way that he played the outfield, how aggressive he was to every ball that went into the air, and learning from a guy like that. And, you know, having Coach Waz work with us every day, and EDDs, you know, a guy with a fungo like that can give you tough balls to catch, and you go get them, and you kind of work on that kind of thing. And just the standard that the pitchers expect, you know, early in the fall, we kind of make a promise to them that anything with an arm’s reach at the park is caught. So, you know, that's the goal.” Game on Saturday has been moved to 11:00 AM due to expected inclement weather....

About a third of the seating is covered, and when people see that it’s going to be cold and rainy… Attendance suffers. for those who are there, they will move up under the cover, and then you will not see them behind home plate.

Ducks Win 5-2, but with tough-on-heart drama. Jason Reitz did well in the eighth inning to not allow a run, but he walked the first two batters in the ninth! So Oregon's closer Cole Stokes comes in, strikes out one, and then could not find the plate to walk the bases loaded! He generates a fly ball for the second out, but Minnesota had their ideal batter at the plate--a home run hitter who could win the game for them. Then Stokes pitches three balls! Then he gets a couple of foul balls to make it full count with bases loaded and two outs. Then he strikes the batter out. Whew!