5-0 Ducks after one inning. Ryan Featherston got his first start at Oregon, and put them down in order. He has a 90-92 mph fastball, but a nasty curve/drop-ball that creates soft contact and grounders. Then he has a changeup to boot!

Ryan Cooney got plinked, and moved to second on a balk. Jax Gimenez walked, and then Dominic Hellman just put the barrel out there and got a hit with two strikes into the shallow right field. He is beginning to improvise to help the Ducks, and get on base when his favorite pitches aren't available. Gabe Miranda got walked and brought in the first run with the bases being loaded, and then Maddox Molony rips a shot down the 3rd baseline to get a double and score two!

Drew Smith grounds out at first, but scores Miranda, and then Angel Laya grounds out to score Molony. Wow, what a first inning and it comes from pitching gifts again. Great to see it happens to other schools too, although this pitcher has not pitched in three years due to recovery from Tommy John surgery. Yep...he was rusty.

8-0 Ducks after two innings. I was worried that with Ryan Featherston sitting for a half hour due to the long first inning--that he would lose his edge. Nope, as he got three outs in four batters.

Ryan Cooney got to second on a LF error, and Jax Gimenez singled to short-CF. Dominic Hellman blasts a hit on the RF side of second as the GM shifted to left, and scores Cooney with the speedy Gimenez making to third from first. Gabe Miranda got plinked, and Drew Smith grounds out to shallow LF to score two!

8-0 Ducks after three innings. Geez, the development of all three returning pitchers this weekend has been amazing. Ryan Featherston is just attacking batters with strikes on the first pitch, and puts them in a hole quickly. Looks much different than last year!

8-0 Ducks after four innings. Boy, Ryan Featherston looks so sharp, as he has this changeup pitch that just dies...and batter are waving at chunks of air. He retired the side again, and has given up just one hit in four innings and 55 pitches.

It is BASEBALL season again...and I'm a Happy Duck!

10-0 Ducks after five innings. Drew Smith and Ryan Cooney teamed for a sweet double play to keep the Patriots scoreless. Freshman Brayden Jaksa got a hit in deep LF, and Jack Brooks nailed a stout one deep in the LR/CF gap. He scores Jaksa, and his speed is so exceptional and got him a triple? Whew!

Ryan Cooney singles to CF to then score Brooks.

10-0 Ducks after six innings. Another scoreless inning for Ryan Featherston, and with 80 pitches...I imagine his day is done. He has looked studly today, and it is hard to believe he is the fourth starter? I have not seen starter depth like this since the glory days of George Horton, and it will be fun to watch them against the great competition later on the schedule.

10-1 Ducks after seven innings. Toby Twist is working to save his pitching career after injury setbacks, and gave up a run this inning, although he has quite a curve for a lefty. Great upside there as a relief pitcher later...