Jack Lazarus

After winning three in a row at home to start their postseason run, the Ducks were trampled by the Longhorns in a blowout 11-3 loss to kick off the Super Regional. A poor start from Cal Scolari (3.2 IP, 5 R, 2 H, 4 K) and poor hitting with runners in scoring position proved the catalysts in the critical game one loss for Oregon against the Texas Longhorns. The loss puts Texas a game up in the best-of-three series, with a spot in the College World Series on the line.

It was bound to happen at some point. One can’t hold down the best offense in the Big Ten, and the second best in NCAA for an entire series. UCLA was not going to be swept at home, and it was going to win its last game in style. On the Bruins’ senior night, they launched four homeruns, put up double digits on the score board and only played five innings.

To beat a bear one has to stand its ground, make a lot of noise and make itself look big. Oregon stood still, made a lot of noise and certainly was big in Game 1. Elon Butler and Stefini Ma’ake delivered the noise, Elise Sokolsky stood her ground in the circle and put up a big 6-2 win in Los Angeles on Friday. No. 15 Oregon (39-10, 19-3 Big Ten) started its last regular season series off with an 8-2 win over the potent offense of No. 6 UCLA (44-6, 19-3 Big Ten).