By Olivia Mock  

EUGENE, Ore. — This week, the Oregon Ducks (15-7, 6-3 PAC-12) will take a break from conference play and welcome the Seattle University Redhawks (7-16, 3-6 WAC) to Eugene. Starting Wednesday, the two teams will play a four-game series at PK Park.  

Oregon Ducks  

The Ducks come fresh off a 2-1 series victory over Arizona. Outfielder Jeffery Heard and third baseman Carter Garate remain as Oregon’s leading hitters, batting .348 and .350 respectively this season. One of last week’s standouts was outfielder Bryce Bottcher, who had a season-high three RBI and a home run off two hits during Saturday’s game. Additionally, Grayson Grinsell continues to prove himself on the mound, allowing one earned run on just three hits over the 4.2 innings he pitched. While the Ducks outlasted the Wildcats over the series, they’re playing on the heels of a tough 15-4 loss on Sunday. Shifting the infield proved beneficial for Oregon’s defense, however, there is still room for improvement in the bullpen, which allowed 14 hits and five walks in Sunday’s loss. This week, the Ducks aim to bounce back and regain some of their previous momentum.   

Seattle Redhawks  

The Redhawks come to Eugene after a 1-2 series loss to Utah Tech. On Friday, they came away with their win and beat the Trailblazers 5-3. Outfielder Cole Kleckner stands out as a batter on this team, with a .363 average this season. During Friday’s win, catcher Grant Heiser garnered some attention at bat as well, with two RBIs and two runs off two hits. On the mound, Blake Smith allowed only one earned run while pitching three strikeouts. After showing promise early on, Seattle lost the last two games of the series, ending with a 14-3 defeat on Sunday, their first in-conference home loss since 2022. Coming into this week’s series, the Redhawks look for a comeback win over an out-of-conference opponent.  

Prediction  

The Redhawks have yet to beat a PAC-12 team this season, losing both of their games against Washington State. However, Oregon should not underestimate an out-of-conference team aiming to make a statement. The Ducks look to carry on the momentum they built throughout the season and tighten up some issues in the bullpen. I predict they pull off their first series sweep since February, although I do see the potential for some more pitching issues in the later games of this longer series.