EUGENE, Ore. – Despite a quick start from George Mason, Oregon answered in the second inning and rode the wave to a dominant win in Game 1 of the doubleheader, 14-5.
Junior Collin Clarke received the start for the Ducks. He pieced together a strong outing, tossing six innings, giving up three hits, two home runs, and striking out 10.
“It felt great going out there,” Clarke said, reflecting on his outing. “All pitches were in the zone, and that was the main focus.”
One of his two runs came on the second pitch of the game, when George Mason freshman Julius Bagnerise went deep to right, a lightning start for the Patriots.
The Ducks' response: a nine-run second inning, blowing the contest wide open. Freshman Angel Laya started the show with a two-run homer to right, the first of his collegiate career. Oregon, feeding off that energy, proceeded to dominate the inning.
Left fielder Jax Gimenez tacked on another with an RBI single up the middle. Freshman Brayden Jaksa scored on a wild pitch following his first career hit, which was a scorching double that nearly exited the park in left field. Afterwards, shortstop Maddox Molony walked in another run, then senior Drew Smith crushed a fastball to left-center for a grand slam. Oregon went around the lineup with ease, ending the inning up 9-1.
After a scoreless third inning, the fourth brought runs in for both squads.
For George Mason, it came as a response to a fierce exchange between Clarke and center fielder Luciano Terilli.
Clarke snagged a sharp liner off the bat of Terilli and was quick to show his passion, which was pointed at the Patriots hitter. Terilli, not thrilled with the exchange, jawed back at Clarke, who then received a warning from the third-base official. Both dugouts found the top step as tensions rose. In stepped the left fielder, Lucas Alberti, who took the first pitch to right field for a solo shot. A well-timed response from the Patriots, bringing the tally to 9-2.
“That’s just his reaction, so I’m not going to coach it out of him,” head coach Mark Wasikowski said regarding Clarke’s reaction. “We can all relate that have played the game, he’s just a passionate kid.”
In the bottom of the frame, Oregon responded as North Kentucky transfer Gabe Miranda drove in a run with an RBI single, giving the Ducks more cushion.
More runs crossed for George Mason in the 7th, once Leo Uelman entered from the bullpen. The junior, who hadn’t pitched since May 12th, 2023, made his return to the mound at PK Park, but had a rocky outing. The Patriots tacked on three runs with base hits from Matthew West and Laken Tignor, eating into the Oregon lead.
The Ducks went on to put up four more in the bottom of the eighth, all brought in by the long ball. Laya dismantled a ball to deep right, landing it on top of the Oregon Player Development Area, his second home run of the afternoon. Shortly after, junior Ryan Cooney got hold of one to center for a three-run shot, his first of the season.
“Oh, jeez, the guy looks like he’s 25 years old,” Wasikowski said about Angel Laya’s at-bats. “He’s a very talented player.”
Transfer Ryder Edwards finished things off in the ninth, completing a commanding Game 1 win, 14-5, highlighted by a gem from Clarke and a complete offensive performance from the Ducks.
Oregon would go on to win game two of the doubleheader 14-4 and seek a four-game sweep of George Mason on Sunday, February 15th, at PK Park.