Normally Oregon is facing pitchers with ERAs close to ours or even better from the opposing starters. But this weekend is the biggest spread yet this season...by a mile.

For example we open up tonight with Will Sanford, who sports a 3.24 ERA and he goes up against a Nittany Lion in Colin Fitzgerald who has a 6.98 ERA. The starters on Saturday and Sunday have even worse ERAs, so on paper--Oregon has a decided advantage.

But we know how that goes, as it all depends upon the day. If our guy has an off-day, and their pitcher is on fire that day...ERAs mean nothing. Looking at the pitching roster...it gets worse quickly for Penn State, with the best relievers a touch below 5.00 at best, with much higher numbers the norm.

In terms of hitting...Penn State has four players hitting over .300 while the Ducks have five with another quite close. The 'Lions can keep it close with good pitching, but the potential is there for the some run-rule games too.

They are 12-26, with only five wins in Big-10 play. (Oregon is 29-11) Their most notable wins are taking one game out of a three-game series from Iowa, Purdue, Illinois, Ohio State and Rutgers. They did lose two close games to Nebraska, so the potential to mess us up is there.

PSU is only 3-14 on the road, and it is projected to be sunny and warm this weekend, which is perfect for our home-run hitters. This should be the easiest series left, but you know Baseball! Get it done, Ducks!

Lots of Homer-Huddles, Please!

0-0 after two innings. Will Sanford has given a little up, but kept them scoreless. He's good tonight thus far, but not his best--yet.

On offense? The Ducks have stranded four runners in two innings already.

2-1 Ducks after four innings. In the third inning, we committed two throwing errors in one play to score a runner from second who got a double off Will Sanford.

In the fourth--Sanford put them down 1-2-3.

Angel Laya got a hit up the middle, and then Burke-Lee Mabeus hit opposite field to LF over the wall for a 2-run homer!

3-2 Ducks after five innings. Will Sanford lost some control this inning, as he gave up some hits and then his wild pitch gave Penn State another run.

Jax Gimenez walks, and then steals second easily. Braden Jaksa gets a hit up the middle, and then Ryan Cooney hits a deep sacrifice-fly to score Gimenez!

3-2 Ducks after six innings. Will Sanford gave up two base runners, but got it done with a scoreless inning.

Oregon loads the bases with one out, and strands them....again.

4-4 after seven innings. Luke Morgan comes in for relief....and gives up a 2-run homer.

Brayden Jaksa nails a pitch to the RF corner for a double, while Angel Laya walks. Jaksa moves to third on a wild pitch, and Maddox Molony hits just past the first baseman to score Jaksa.

Then Oregon stranded bases-loaded for a third time.

5-4 Ducks after eight innings. Tanner Bradley came in and disposed of the 'Lions 1-2-3...

Jack Brooks beats out a soft bouncer to 3rd base area, and then steals second. Brayden Jaksa walks, and then both do a double-steal! Ryan Cooney is intentionally walked. Drew Smith hit a bouncer to 3rd, and the throw to home was just a little wide which pulled the catcher's foot off the plate so Brooks scored!

Then we left bases loaded stranded for the FOURTH time tonight...