EUGENE, Ore. – The No. 19 Nebraska Cornhuskers and No. 21 Oregon Ducks returned to PK Park on Saturday with an earlier first pitch than previously expected, presumably to combat the ever-looming Eugene precipitation. The show must go on, though, as there was hope for another thriller. Friday’s Big Ten matchup ended with a close 7-6 win for Oregon after a fairly lengthy weather day, but on Saturday, the Cornhuskers (27-8, 12-2) held on to take it 10-8.
The Ducks (25-19, 9-5) looked to replicate their winning ways without the help of ace pitcher Will Sanford and his 12 strikeouts. Instead, junior Collin Clarke was handed the start. Similar to Friday’s matchup, the Oregon offense started to buzz.
Within the first two innings, both sophomore Jax Gimenez and freshman Brayden Jaska reached home as a result of Ryan Cooney’s hot bat and quick RBIs. A leadoff double from freshman phenom Angel Laya and an RBI from Naulivou Lauaki Jr. put the Ducks ahead by five heading into the fourth inning.
At the conclusion of the top of the third, back-to-back strikeouts and a post-third strike staredown from Clarke was not well received by home plate umpire Mike Fichter, much to the dismay and irritation of both players and fans.
Clarke’s antics must’ve lit something in the Nebraska offense as they rattled off six runs in two innings. Back to back to back home runs from Case Sanderson, Dylan Carey, and Joshua Overbeek raised some questions for pitcher Clarke.
Ultimately, head coach Mark Wasikowski stuck with the junior. The Cornhuskers were not done, though. Three more runs scored in the fourth and fifth innings, and after a Sanderson RBI, an Oregon error, and a Max Buttenback sacrifice fly made it 6-5 for the Cornhuskers, the Ducks scrambled to find where their early lead had gone.
Lauaki’s solo homerun in the bottom of the fifth shrank the lead to two, Clarke was replaced by Michael Meckna, and an uneventful sixth inning cycled Lauaki back to the plate once again.
His effort on the offensive side of the diamond proved to be one of the sole reasons why the Ducks were still in this ballgame. Lauaki hit his second home run of the game, this time to center field.
Nebraska did not intend on giving this game away, though, as Sanderson shut down all speculation and Oregon rally attempts with a two-run home run in the eighth. A late RBI from substitute catcher Burke-Lee Mabeus ended this matchup by a score of 10-8, and Nebraska won.
Nebraska relief pitcher J’Shawn Unger struck out both Lauaki and Jack Brooks for the final outs of the afternoon. These schools will meet for the final game of this series on Sunday, 12:00 p.m. at PK Park.