The game was moved up due to weather concerns, as is Friday's game to 2:00 PM. We have some really interesting pitching changes for both teams, as Youngstown State has two really-good pitchers, but they are being played on Friday and Saturday of this four game series. The first surprise is how they are playing a senior RHP in Aiden English, who had a 13.79 ERA in 15 innings last year.

That was not a typo. Now we all know that pitchers can improve as we've seen with Our Beloved Ducks, but it appears the Penguin strategy, (yes, that is their mascot) is to put their weakest pitchers on the first and fourth games. The 'GUINS have three .300+ hitters, and another who hit .300 last weekend at Auburn.

The stunner on our side? Oregon is NOT starting Will Sanford like last week, but Toby Twist instead! Apparently Ryan Featherston is back to relief duty again, but not due to his performance last week, as he was nails for us. I believe Coach Waz is trying to get Twist back into things, but he did not have a shining relief role last week.

So we are pitting weak pitcher vs. weak pitcher for the Thursday game? Should be fun to watch...

Toby Twist

4-0 Ducks after one inning. Well, the coaches know best as Toby Twist looked good putting down all three batters to start. Can't say the same for the 'GUINS pitcher, although the fielders made errors as well.

Jack Brooks hit a ball that looked like a Dinger, but hit the top of the wall and bounced back for a double. Jax Gimenez gets to first on a throwing error, and then Gabe Miranda hits a deep sacrifice fly to RF to score Brooks. Maddox Molony hit a deep fly to LF that bounced in front of the fielder to score Gimenez.

Molony then steals second, but the overthrow there allows him to steal third as well! Drew Smith hits a zinger that bounces off the fielder's mitt, into the LF wall and back to result in a triple--while scoring Molony. Burke-Lee Mabeus gets his first hit of the year in shallow right field to score Molony...and we can't ask for too much more to start!

4-1 Ducks after two innings. Toby Twist gave up a homer and finished out the rest although he was assisted by mistaken base runner who thought it was two outs and kept running on a fly...when it was one. Double play!

10-1 Ducks after three innings. Toby Twist gets in jams, but works his way out when he creates a grounder to 3rd baseman Drew Smith, who fires it to second for one out, and then Jack Brooks hurls it hard to just get the batter out. Double play!

Gabe Miranda walked, then Maddox Molony hit a screamer down the 3rd baseline that hugs the LF wall, and get snagged up in the corner. It is a double for him, and Miranda scored from first. The big guy can MOVE!

Drew Smith bunts and doesn't beat the throw, but the 1st baseman lifted his foot too soon, so safe! Molony moved to third and Burke-Lee Mabeus hits a sacrifice grounder that scores Molony. Angel Laya walks, and Ryan Cooney gets plinked...so bases loaded! Jax Gimenez walks to score a run, and the Dominic Hellman got jammed inside with a fastball, but muscled it to shallow RF to score two! Gabe Miranda hits to deep RF to score Gimenez.

This was done primarily on a relief pitcher, so Coach Waz's strategy in starting Toby Twist was correct; get him playing time and experience because we will outscore the 'Guins. (Penguins) He was right!