Oregon State and University of Oregon’s rivalry date is one of the oldest in the nation, dating all the way back to 1894. So it’s safe to say every game against the Beavers is always highly anticipated by Ducks and Beaver fans alike. 

We all know the spirit of the mighty Ducks runs in every University of Oregon student's veins, and Oregon baseball truly channeled its energy. 

No. 13 Oregon baseball (30-12, 14-7 Big Ten) played Game 3 against No. 3 Oregon State (32-10) this Sunday with high hopes of sweeping their main rival at home. The Ducks won their two prior games on Friday and Saturday, where they broke the Beavers’ 12-game win streak in Game 1 and swept the Beavers with a 13-1 win in Game 2. 

“We had three sellouts,” head coach Mark Wasikowski said when asked how the energy in the stands contributed to the energy out on the field. “Yesterday and today's umpire both said that this was the most incredible environment they’ve been in on the entire West Coast. If that’s what the umpires are feeling, obviously, then the kids and coaches are feeling that as well. The energy they’re bringing to the field is tremendous. They’re showing up.”

The Ducks seemed to have lit a match underneath Oregon State during this series, their first matchup of the season, as they managed to keep the Beavers at bay the entire weekend, Oregon State desperate for another win. 

Albeit the Ducks wanted to start strong in Game 3, they had a rough start to their game. Oregon State managed to get first on the board with a run from Tyce Peterson after Trent Caraway walked to first with the bases loaded. The Ducks struggled to pitch and hit accurately early on in Game 3, much to the Beavers’ fortune. 

The momentum for Oregon was slow at the beginning, but they seemed to get it back at the bottom of the fourth, where Jacob Walsh hit a solo home run, tying it at 1-1. Following Walsh’s solo run, Maddox Molony drove a ball towards center field, where Drew Smith managed to advance to home and put the Ducks up by one run in the same inning. 

Tension was at an all-time high throughout the entirety of Game 3. Clear frustration was emitted from both sides as Oregon State lacked the energy to catch up with Oregon, and Oregon tried to further its lead, coming up empty-handed at the end of each inning after the fourth. The Ducks managed to receive another solo home run by Molony. 

Oregon baseball continued to try its best in driving the ball home and getting additional runs, but it continuously came up short when bases were nearly loaded or when a player at bat would send the ball flying deep into the outfield only to get caught by an Oregon State player. But despite this challenge, the Ducks continued to play hard and stay confident in their game, a trait of a mighty Duck coming into play. 

“Having full faith in my defense allows me to throw,” right-handed pitcher Jason Reitz said. “I mean, I didn’t have myself today, and I just put it over the plate, and my defense had me. They were making great plays. It’s a good feeling to have them behind me.” 

Oregon switched out its pitchers five times this game, trying to ensure the best success out of Game 3. Reitz was the starting pitcher for the Ducks for five innings, resulting in 20 batters faced with only five walks. Reitz was followed by Ian Umlandt, who only pitched two innings and faced nine batters with zero walks. Cole Stokes and Seth Mattox were added later on in the game. 

Reitz was by far the star pitcher of the game, along with left-handed pitcher Santiago Garcia, who came in late at the top of the ninth after both Stokes and Mattox were switched out of the game. The Ducks used nearly every pitcher available to them to secure the win, and each pitcher seemed to step up to the plate in order to do so. 

“He battled. He didn’t have his best stuff,” Coach Wasikowski said when asked about Reitz’s performance in Game 3. “But he battled, and he wanted to battle. He was adamant on not coming out. We were planning on taking him out in the third inning after he was loose in his command, and Oregon State got one run in the second inning. He flat-out came up to me and said that I wasn’t going to take him out of the game. For me, that’s huge progress. I don’t think he would’ve done that last year — from what I heard. He wasn’t ready to come out of the game and wanted to stay in the game. I was like, ‘Great man! Go get it!’ We trust him and he’s really good.” 

Reitz being adamant on staying in the game for as long as he could shows extraordinary prowess not just as a baseball player but as a Duck as well. Being able to exude this kind of trait is a perfect example of what a mighty Duck is and what one can do. 

The Ducks fought tooth and nail the entirety of Game 3 to secure a sweep against Oregon State, especially after a solo home run by Aiva Arquette made it 3-2 at the beginning of the eighth inning. But Oregon was able to keep the Beavers at bay the rest of the game, Garcia striking out Talt at the top of the ninth with two outs left in the inning, establishing the sweep over Oregon State. 

“We just want to play good baseball,” Coach Wasikowski said. “You can’t win one way. You need to win in a lot of ways. When the pitching is good on the other side, as it is and was today, you can’t just throw your hands in the air and say, ‘Well, we’re going to lose because their pitching’s good.’ You have to find a way to win.”

Oregon played hard in this game, attempting to secure the win and widen its lead at any given chance. The Ducks made up for their mistakes in their defense and pitching, making saves where it counted. 

“I’m so proud of the guys. They were so fun to be around,” Reitz said when asked how the sweep felt. “I think that’s a really good step for us. Everyone came in with the mentality of just getting after and not backing down from anyone.”

The spirit of the mighty Duck is to always stay persistent and steady during heated and challenging moments, and that is exactly what Oregon baseball did in its last game against Oregon State at home. 

“Good,” Coach Wasikowski said when asked how it felt to sweep Oregon State on Sunday. “And we get one more.”

If Oregon baseball continues to be confident in itself and its ability to play ball, then nothing can shake its foundation or spirit. 

Oregon baseball faces Oregon State again this upcoming Tuesday, April 29, at 5:35 p.m. on Beavers territory.