It was amazing watching Eugene native Bryce Boettcher, a safety on the football team hit a home run on Wednesday night.  He got on base all-six times he was at-bat, and three of them were hit-by-pitches!  That never happens, nor the home run by a football player, yet if anyone is built to take repeated blows to a strong body--it is Boettcher!

 

Oregon takes on No. 8 Stanford at PK Park, and this is an opportunity to climb the standings and increase our shot at the NCAA tournament.  The Ducks are already holding an RPI of No. 13, and have a Strength-of-Schedule ranked at No. 7 coming from five Ducks who are hitting over .300 with others who are close.

 

Tonight's starter at 5:05 PM PST Jace Stoffal (the pride of Roseburg!) has brought his ERA down to 3.31 and is coming off being the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week for holding Oregon State scoreless, and to only one hit in last Friday's game.  Do it again Jace!

 

As so many of the freshman relievers improve--we see their ERAs decline as are some of the veterans.  

 

Fr. Ian Umlandt   3.18

Fr. Matthew Grabmann 2.77

Sr. Matt Dallas  2.33

Jr. Austin Anderson  .56

Sr. Josh Mollerus  0.00  This stud mowed down the last six batters to preserve the 5-3 victory on Tuesday!

 

                                 Bryce Boettcher at the plate...

 

Coach Waz is gradually building back baseball at Oregon, and I believe he will eventually turn the Ducks into a national power.  We are two experienced starting pitchers away from being an "Omaha-Bound" team, and eventually it will happen.  Too bad Oregon lost two of last year's starting pitchers to injury and have not played yet this year, but the core of freshmen pitchers recruited with the development program in place will bring winning results in the future.

 

For now....22-9 doesn't suck!

 

(Go to GoDucks.com, then Sports, then Baseball, then Schedule, and scroll down to the game and click on "Watch)

Bryce has always been a baseball guy, he got invited to become a football player last year, great person, tough player.