The No. 9 Oregon baseball team (14-3) saw its eleven-game win streak come to an end Tuesday night, falling to Grand Canyon University (12-4) in a tightly contested 4-2 loss. 

After sweeping the USC Trojans on the road, Oregon returned to PK Park for a two-game midweek series against the unranked GCU.

However, the Ducks could not keep their momentum going and fell short of setting a program record for consecutive wins.

“We didn’t get the hit with two outs,” Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski said. “We’ve been through the stretch that we’ve been winning here, and we didn’t get that hit today.”

Mason Neville launched the first pitch deep to left-center, giving Oregon an early lead.

Oregon starter Ian Umlandt dominated through six scoreless innings, but the tide turned in the seventh. Carson Ohland swung on the first pitch across the plate and took it deep to left field, sending the ball over the wall.

“He usually doesn’t beat himself,” Wasikowski said of Umlandt. “For a midweek starter, or any starter at all, to go out there and give up one run, or no runs or two runs on an entire start, that’s a good start. He gives us that pretty much every time he [goes] out there.”

The next at bat, Marcus Galvan stepped up to the plate and hit a double to left field. With the game all tied up, a pitching change for the ducks brought Seth Mattox to the mound. Mattox’s time was cut short, facing only two batters, and got pulled from play after a walk, and throwing an error in a failed pickoff attempt.

Stepping up to the rubber was Cole Stokes for a third pitching change, who allowed one run before closing out the inning.

Trailing in the seventh, the Ducks found themselves in a must-score situation.

Two runners were left on base for Oregon in a must-score moment after a two-out decision sent Carter Garate home from third, where he was thrown out by a mile.

​​“I think that was probably a mistake,” Wasikowski said. “And everybody knew that and even Coach Hinkle knew that. I’ve been over there many times and made a mistake like that…Even with that, we could have still easily won the game.”

Costly baserunning mistakes by the Ducks allowed GCU to capitalize, executing when it mattered most.

On the night, a total of 11 Ducks were left stranded on base with seven of the runners in scoring position.

Both teams added a run in the eighth, but a scoreless ninth sealed the win for GCU.

Wasikowski took responsibility for the loss, saying, “I just don’t think I coached very well today,” when asked about the team’s expectations moving forward. Despite the setback, his message was simple. “Play well tomorrow…Play good baseball.”

As Oregon looks ahead to conference play, minimizing mistakes will be crucial to maintaining its status as a top contender in Big Ten conference play. Both teams entered the series riding sweeps, making confidence a key factor in determining the outcome. Player fatigue and quick turnarounds — especially on the road — add another layer of difficulty as the season progresses.

Wasikowski emphasized that effort wasn’t the issue, but rather the approach at the plate.

"I don't think it was a lack of energy. Sometimes you don't get the hit,” Wasikowski said. “I thought some of the swings were a little bigger than we needed. We need a little bit shorter contact type swing instead of a more of a home run type of an approach.”

Oregon will rematch GCU on Mar. 12, with first pitch at 4:05 p.m.