The No. 11 Oregon baseball team is just one win away from its third super regional berth over the last four seasons.
The Ducks will take on in-state rival Oregon State for a spot in the super regional round next weekend after the Beavers eliminated Washington State earlier in the day 10-1.
It’s the first time the schools have ever played in the NCAA tournament.
If Oregon wins, it will advance outright to supers. If the Ducks lose, they will play a winner-take-all, loser-out game against the Beavers on Monday at a time to be determined.
Ducks and Beavers trade early blows
Oregon State struck first, 1-0, in the second after Oregon’s starter allowed a leadoff single from Adam Haight, then after recording two outs, walked a batter and allowed an RBI single from Easton Talt.
After that, Oregon State attempted a double steal, but a throw by Ryan Cooney gunned down Tyler Inge at the plate to keep it 1-0 heading to the third.
Oregon’s bats woke up in the third, getting three singles, capped by Drew Smith’s RBI single to even the game at 1-1. Unfortunately for Oregon, Angel Laya was thrown out on that same play trying to advance to third.
Heading to the bottom of the third, it’s tied 1-1.
Pitchers find their rhythm
Oregon’s starter struck out the side in the third inning, the first of the game without traffic on the base paths for the Ducks’ defense.
Heading to the fourth, it’s 1-1.
Oregon’s bats went quiet again in the fourth, going down in order and each by strikeout via Wyatt Queen. OSU’s righty has five strikeouts over four innings and is just over 50 pitches thrown.
Headed to the bottom of the fourth, it’s still tied 1-1.
Oregon’s starter allowed another OSU runner to reach scoring position but struck out Jacob Galloway and induced a Jacob Krieg flyout to end the inning.
Deadlock continues into the later innings
Oregon State’s starter threw 4 2/3 innings, gave up just one run on four hits with seven strikeouts. With one out left in the fifth, the Beavers have turned to Isaac Yeager to face the top of Oregon’s order. It’s still tied 1-1 and Maddox Molony is on first with two outs.
Headed to the bottom of the fifth, it’s tied 1-1.
After a leadoff single, Maddox Molony managed to get to second with two outs, but Oregon State’s Isaac Yeager struck out Ryan Cooney to end the inning.
Though Oregon State reached on a two-out single, Miles Gosztola worked yet another scoreless inning in the fifth.
Oregon State’s Isaac Yeager sent the Ducks down in order in the sixth, including two strikeouts.
In the bottom of the sixth, it’s 1-1.
The Duck bats weren’t competitive in the second inning, going down in order as OSU’s Wyatt Queen continues to roll. Queen is up to 24 pitches thrown through two innings.
After a leadoff bunt single by Oregon State’s Easton Talt, two outs that moved Talt over to third and a walk issued to Paul Vazquez, Oregon starter Miles Gosztola escaped the inning unscathed by striking out Josh Proctor.