Do not overlook our opponent, as they won 40 games last year, the most in 16 years, and they return a ton of players and welcome a bunch of portal transfers. They ended up in the runner-up in the Atlantic-10 conference, and they have a senior pitcher who is pretty good, and I expect to see today.

Speaking of pitchers....the Friday starter was named by Coach Waz as Will Sanford, and you could knock me over with a Duck-feather. I was skeptical if Sanford would even be a starter, let alone the Friday night guy. He was heralded as a major prospect coming out of high school, but had some rough outings last year. But players get better!

Head Coach Mark Wasikowski said, "He's pitched really well. His stuff is improved, just everything that he's been able to roll out there... the kid earned it, and so my expectation is for him to just go out there and pitch the way he's pitched, how we've seen him, you know, in Fall scrimmages and Spring scrimmages. He's just been really elite."

Will Sanford

Sanford said his focus is on setting the tone every weekend, the same way those pitchers before him did — and that his mindset is shaped by what he learned from last season.

"Take it week by week, but I just really want to set the tone each weekend for us," Sanford said. "And, you know, just have a great season." "Last year, I felt like I failed a lot. So learning from them and seeing how they hold themselves, how they go pitch to pitch, and how they respond to adversity — it kind of takes what they did and lets me apply it toward this year."

The Saturday double-header will have starters Collin Clarke, and transfer Cal Scolari as I expected, and the Sunday starter is unknown at this point.

Pitching Depth Takes Center Stage as Oregon Baseball Opens Season Against George Mason

Oregon opens the season with a four-game series vs. George Mason, led by opening day starter Will Sanford and a pitching staff built on depth and competition.

https://247sports.com/college/oregon/article/pitching-depth-takes-center-stage-as-oregon-baseball-opens-season-against-george-mason-274232346/

Wow, did I get surprised with the starting lineup. Four fielders...I did not anticipate. We have Jax Gimenez at LF, Jack Brooks at CF, and new freshman Angel Laya at RF. And we have Gabe Miranda at first base as I reported yesterday.

Will Sanford put them out 1-2-3 in the first half of the first inning, and all three are .300+ hitters. He threw a 95 mph pitch on his first one, so this is a very good start. Great for his and our confidence!

1-0 Ducks after one inning.

We got bases loaded by hits from Jax Gimenez and Dominic Hellman, and a hit-by-pitch on Miranda but could not get much from the opportunity. Drew Smith walked, thus we got a run.

Big surprise...lefty hitter Gabe Miranda was in the clean-up spot on the batting order!

Wow! What a way to start the season. Keep it going, guys.

5-0 Ducks after two innings. Will Sanford gave up a hit, but forced two fly-outs, and got a pick-off at first base with Gabe Miranda!

Freshman Angel Laya got things going with a hit in his first at-bat! A good-looking newbie there... Jack Brooks did a perfect bunt that died between home plate and the pitchers mound, and he jetted with his superb speed to beat the throw. Then Ryan Cooney puts a perfect bunt down the third base line and with his wings flew to first with time to spare.

Jax Gimenez grounds out, but scores Laya. Then Dominic Hellman comes in and unloads a DOM-BOMB that was a line drive that cleared the fence in left field, but also the back fence of the visiting bullpen! Whew!

5-0 Ducks after three innings. Angel Laya got another hit in his second at-bat...maybe that is why he is starting? Other Ducks flied/grounded out.

Will Sanford put them down in order again, but boy...he has got a nasty curve that drops a foot to pair with his 95 mph fastball. A deadly combination, and maybe that's why he is the starter too?

Charles...you gotta trust Coach Waz!

5-0 Ducks after 4 innings. Sanford is giving them much to work with as he retired the side, and is at 62 pitches after four innings. It will be interesting to see how long Waz will let him continue, as they like to gradually build the arm up over the season.

Gabe Miranda has been hit twice by pitch..already. Drew Smith walked but we got nothing else.

6-0 Ducks after five innings. Sanford forces three ground-outs, and the infield looks sharp! Will has 71 pitches after six innings...

Angel Laya got his third hit today, a sweet drive in the gap near center field for a double. What have I said about "Greatness and Weakness Emerge Early?" He has a nice natural swing, and quite a good looking player already. Jack Brooks bunts and doesn't make it, but a bad throw pulled the first baseman to have the ball bounce off his mitt. That scores Laya from second base!

I guess he has speed too?

6-0 Ducks after six innings. Will Sanford finished with a great day, giving up no runs. Our first reliever is Gonzaga transfer, Miles Gosztola, who is a lefty with a big sweeping pitch that whips inward towards the batter. He gave up a double, but then forced two grounders and a fly ball. Good start!

6-2 Ducks after seven innings. Gosztola looked like he was going to get out of a jam, but then gave up a double. Ducks didn't do much on offense...