By CJ Flores
Eugene– Ore Right Fielder, Mason Neville re-enters the batter's box.
He looks out to the mound.
It’s just him and Taylor Grant, looking back at each other.
The sun shining through on PK Park. Illuminating the beautiful yellow University of Oregon logo in Center Field.
Neville readjusts, breathes in, raises his arms, getting ready for the pitch.
As Neville exhales with the ball approaching, It’s the calm before the storm, the feeling of peace before the ball travels ninety feet into the catcher's mitt.
Neville with no hesitation, seeing the ball come to him just as he’s done for years, takes a gigantic swing.
With a powerful swing, followed by a thunderous crack of the bat, the ball travels over the fence, The Ducks strike first. Neville ignites lighting at PK.
The No. 20 Oregon Ducks (34-16, 16-11 PAC-12) looked to enter their final home-stint of the season with aggression and passion, against The Washington Cougars (21-29, 9-18 PAC-12). The Ducks, who’ve won the last of their 2 series, one of which on the road, continued their momentum early with Mason Neville’s two-run home run to right field, in the bottom of the first. Neville had struck first against Cougars pitcher Grant Taylor, Taylor had 90 strikeouts and an ERA 4.21 so far this season.
“Grant Taylor’s up for PAC-12 pitcher of the year, he’s not an easy pitcher to break down…His stuff's dominant, he's the real deal” Coach Wasikowski said.
Neville’s early home run electrified the fans in PK Park but more importantly his team. Neville’s shot heard around PK Park would bring the score for Oregon up to two, and Washignton zero.
Neville’s electricity would strike twice as he would go on to hit another home run to deep center field in the bottom of the second. With this home run, he would also bring in two more runs for Oregon, Boettcher, and Smith. Neville’s two home runs is the exactly the right momentum this Oregon team needs before heading into the PAC-12 Tournament.
“For Mason to get that swing, it was a real real big swing and a big win for us” Wasikowski says.
Neville wasn't the only Duck that had the electricity coursing through his veins, RJ Gordon starting pitcher tonight, had all the right things.
“Being able to come on and get the juices flowing a bit and get the guys pumped up” he expressed.
Gordon would get the juices flowing as he would go on to have five hits allowed, two earned runs, and six strikeouts in six innings pitched.
Gordon’s impressive outing had kept the Cougars to only two runs scored, and allowed his offense to keep the runs coming. Gordon had pitched with fierce dominance against the Cougars, in his first inning he would retire all three batters via strikeout.
Gordon would be pulled out after a tough sixth inning after giving up a Cougar home run and walking Casen Taggart (DH). Gordon did finish the sixth by recording his sixth strikeout, and Thompson’s throwdown to second ended the inning for the pitcher.
“ It feels good, throwing hard, doing everything I need to do and putting it all together on the field… he continues, My sole plan was to throw everything as hard as I can, I did that, It worked out”
Oregon would not take their foot off the gas against the Cougars, as they would go on to respond in the bottom of the sixth. Oregon’s second big inning kicked off with a Chase Meggers line drive single to second base.
Although it seemed as if the Ducks electricity was running out as the team would have back to back pop fly outs, Drew smith would draw a walk bringing two Ducks on base.
Mason Neville would also be walked as he looked at ball four coming across the zone. Kevin Haynes, right hand reliever for the Cougars put himself and the team on their back heels.
Jacob Walsh approached the plate, Walsh who was 0-3 at the plate so far, waited for redemption.
Walsh, on a 1-1 count, found his pitch and popped it up shallow to center field and would bring in three more runs for Oregon.
This extended Oregon’s lead to nine, and would be the final runs brought in for the rest of the night.
Oregon as a collective unit played their best against the Cougars in the first game of a three- game match-up. They looked as complete as ever, heading into the last stretch of the season before they go into the PAC-12 Tournament. Offense and defense both played their respective parts to seal game one.
“The complete game is a result of the work they’re putting in… the practice time leads to what you see,” Wasikowski emphasized.
The Ducks look to continue their electric style of play for the final two games, on May 17th and May 18th at PK Park.
Audio Story by Aiden Hess