June 24, 2011; Omaha, NE, USA; Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

This is a big weekend for Oregon Baseball, currently 10-4 on the season and Ranked #15 in the poll that matters. They rank everwhere from 10-20 in other polls throughout the country. The Ducks welcome the first Top 5 team to PK Park since 2010 in #2 Vanderbilt. The pitching breakdown for the Ducks in the three game series features Jake Reed, who lost the Opener 4-1 and is now 1-3 on the season. Opposing pitcher Vanderbilt’s Kevin Ziomek was stellar. He picked up the win pitching a complete game, his second of the season.  The Vanderbilt left-hander allowed just two hits, while striking out 13 and walking just one. Tommy Thorpe and Cole Irvin will complete the series on the hill for the Ducks. Oregon looks to even things up Saturday at 2pm, the final game against Vandy is Sunday at Noon.

In case you missed the ‘glove throw to first’ that happened last week. Pitcher Jeff Gold and Ryon Healy discussed the play that made the Sportcenter Top 10 at #2 earlier this week.

 Ducks Look to Bring Home the Hardware in Arkansas

Track and Field’s Indoor Season will come to a close this weekend with The Indoor Championships in Fayettteville.

For the latest you can follow @OregonTF on Twitter.

On the Men’s side Oregon’s Mike Berry, who made the qualifier last week at the University of Washington looks to chase down the SEC in the 400 meters. Berry had a record run in the 400 meters on Friday and also advanced runners in the 800 meters  and the 60 meter hurdles. The Ducks are also looking for a individual title in the mile.

For the Women, a runaway victory isn’t the likely outcome this year. It may be a series of win’s but the margin will be a little tighter. They were perfect in Friday’s qualifying rounds and stand in 11th place heading into Saturday.

They’ll compete in six individual events — 60 meters, 400, 800, mile, 3,000 and 5,000 — and the 4×400 and distance medley relays.

Three of those athletes, senior middle distance and distance runners Jordan Hasay, Anne Kesselring and Becca Friday, have never lost an NCAA indoor title.

Geoff Thurner/GoDucks.com

Oregon Softball on 12 Game Winning Streak, Ranked #8

This past week Freshman Cheridan Hawkins was named Pac 12 Pitcher of the Week for her performance. For the third weekend in a row she has kept her ERA under 1. She also leads the Pac 12 in Opposing Batting Average (0.82), saves(3) and games in relief(8).

Oregon Softball will play four games in two days this weekend, returning to Fresno for the second season in a row. The Ducks on a 12 game winning streak will play in the Fresno Classic this weekend. Friday’s games include San Diego State (10-9) and Fresno State (13-10).  Saturday they’ll take on Iowa State (9-6) and St. Mary’s (4-9).

Women’s Basketball’s Season is Over, Now Comes an Important Question

Paul Westhead  has to be wondering about his future. The team, now done with the season and ending at 4-27. After a halftime lead in the Pac 12 Tournament in Seattle on Thursday, 12th seeded Oregon let it slip away against 5 seed Washington, losing 69-62. 

Beat the Utes, Win the Title(or a Share of it)

The Oregon Men’s Basketball team suffered a tough loss to the hands of Colorado Thursday. The Ducks never really had the lead throughout the game and were sloppy with turnovers and missed shots. Oregon shot 37 percent for the game and below 30 percent in the first half. If Oregon can take care of business Saturday against Utah(11:30am, Pac 12 Network) they will win(at least a share) of the Pac 12 Title, and the #1 Seed in the Pac 12 Tournament next week.

Oregon Ducks This Week:

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February 24, 2013; Stanford, CA, USA;. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

One bright spot on the Ducks this season was Freshman Jill Alleyne who had 11 points and 15 rebounds. Four sport athlete Liz Brenner also had 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Ducks. As far as what the future holds when it comes to Head Coach Paul Westhead, no one knows for sure.

Will he get another season to turn it around due to all the injuries(I somewhat feel like a broken record because injuries seem to pile up at the beginning of the season every year, at least the last few, for this team) or will he be let go?

That is now the big question facing a program that has been a pretty big underachieving team the last few seasons.

Oregon Ducks This Week:

Oregon Softball started out hot on Friday night beating Virginia(5-6) 13-0 in five innings.  The Ducks had hits from all nine hitting positions on offense, and Senior Starting Pitcher Jessica Moore. In three innings of work she allowed three hits and stuck out four.

GoDucks.com

Saturday was a doubleheader day for the Ducks. They face Cal Poly(3-0), who was looking for their third straight upset of Top 20 teams to start the season. Oregon did not give it to them, winning 2-1. UO Pitcher Sheridan Hawkins struck out one, and allowed a hit in six innings of work. Jessica Moore came in to close out the game for her first save of the season.

Sunday’s Double dip to wrapup to five game set Oregon beat UNLV 4-2. In the finale the Ducks took care of San Diego State(6-7)  by a score of 3-1. Jessica Moore led the charge and raised her record to 7-2 by striking out ten, walking two and allowing one hit.

For the series the Ducks are hot on offense, two starters hit .400 for the weekend,  Senior Second Baseman Kaylan Howard and Junior Shortstop Courtney Ceo. Four others topped .300.

For the weekend Senior Pitcher Jessica Moore pitched to a 1.31 ERA with ninteen strikeouts, with four walks and seven hits. She held opponents to a .131.

Oregon Softball next heads to Orlando to play in the Citrus Classic (March 1st-3rd)

Oregon opens play vs. fellow WCWS returnee LSU and NCAA regional veteran Long Island on Friday, then faces Boston College and Temple on Saturday, and a third NCAA returnee in Michigan and Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Women’s Track and Field with a Big Weekend at MPSF Championships

Oregon Men’s and Women’s Track and Field looking to continue momentum heading towards the NCAA Championships. The Ducks Phyllis Francis took the 400 meters and broke the facility record at the Dempsey Indoor Facility by more than a second coming in at 52.03 – she hit the tape fifteen meters ahead of her closest competition.

Jun 25, 2012; Eugene, OR, USA; Elijah Greer of Oregon places sixth in the 800m in 1:45.40 in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

In the 60 meters two Ducks finished 1-2. English Gardner won the event in 7.24 seconds and Jenna Prandini placed second in 7.34 seconds.

“We competed really well. There were lots of highlights, lots of personal bests.” Robert Johnson on the Weekend

One race that is always fun to watch is the 3000 meters. Unlike leading the race the whole way the winner, a Duck, trailed and picked up the pace to win in the end. Alexi Pappas won in a personal best 9.07.97.

The Men also had a big weekend with Elijah Greer ran the fastest 400 meters in the nation this year in 1.46.73

Oregon Head Coach Robert Johnson was pleased overall with the weekend.

“There were so many standout performances today. From the mile and the 60s to the 400s and the 800s, the 3,000 and then the relays.  The guys in the multis did a great job with PRs too. It was a good weekend for the Ducks.”

In other news, Oregon’s National Championship Cross Country Team added an academic honor to their list of accomplishments.

Oregon Women’s Basketball Continues to Struggle

February 24, 2013; Stanford, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Paul Westhead reacts against the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Maples Pavilion. Stanford defeated Oregon 74-50. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

It’s hard to build winning momentum when you continue to face better teams. The Ducks faced 6th ranked Cal (77-55 loss) and 4th ranked Stanford((74-50 loss) this weekend. There was a bright spot on Sunday afternoon against the Cardinal in Freshman Jill Alleyne who had her tenth double double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Stanford and a rebounding advantage 55-45 for the game. It was Stanford’s 12th straight victory on the season and Head Coach Paul Westhead has to be looking for the season to be over soon – and it will be.

Oregon faces Colorado(March 1st) and Utah(March 3rd) to close out the regular season. The Lady Ducks are 4-24 on the Season and 2-14 in the Pac 12.

For more on the Ducks you can follow AutzenZoo on Facebook and Twitter.

Justin Phillips is Sports Reporter for Newsradio 1120 KPNW in Eugene, Oregon.