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Rice started right out of the gate and put the Ducks behind in the first inning 3-0. Oregon was able to get 2 runs back in the bottom of a very long 40 minute first inning. The first hour of the game encompassed two innings.

Oregon Starter Jake Reed, who threw over 70 pitches on Friday against South Dakota State was the starter and gave up three runs in the first inning. It was a battle for the Ducks in the middle innings and they could never get the upper hand. In the top of the 9th, Rice added three more runs making it 11-4, a deficit that is hard to make up with just three outs at the end of a game.

The Ducks say farewell to some key pieces of George Horton’s success with Oregon including Seniors J.J. Altobelli, Ryan Hambright, pitcher Darrell Hunter and Andrew Mendenhall.

“the names will be different on the roster but we’re going to go to Omaha I can assure you that. And I’m going to be the coach” -Oregon Coach George Horton after season ending loss to Rice

The offseason will be an interesting one for the Oregon Baseball program as First Baseman Ryon Healy will also likely be headed off to the minor leagues in the upcoming MLB Draft. Oregon closer Jimmie Sherfy is also one who may leave the Ducks, but we’ll have to wait and see at this point.

Oregon Ducks This Week:

The loss put Oregon in a ‘need to win’ situation for Sunday to force a Monday ‘Championship’ game and they came through. In the first game on Sunday Oregon took care of San Francisco 6-1 with Cole Irvin on the mound and his fourth complete game of the season.

Game two was against Rice and Oregon’s bats finally woke up. Ryon Healy took control with a 4-4 performance, 4 RBI’s and two runs scored. Pitcher Jeff Gold, who has been out with an injury allowed two hits in five innings of work forcing a decisive ‘Championship’ game on Monday night at PK Park.

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Rice is the most interesting team of the three coming to face the Ducks. They also have the most post season experience of the teams(19 appearances) to the Ducks(5 appearances). Rice enters PK Park this weekend ranked at #20, Oregon #9.

This round is a doub;e elimination – so if you lose two games, your out.

See if you can follow along…Friday’s First Game has Rice facing of against San Francisco at 2pm PT. Following Game 1, Oregon faces San Francisco in Game 2 at 6pm PT. The losers on Friday face of first on Saturday at 2pm, followed by the winners at 6pm. Sunday at 4pm it’s the Game 4/5 Winners at 4pm PT and Monday a Game 7 at 4pm if there is anyone left to play that has two losses.

Now some interesting stats heading into the weekend. Oregon has never faced South Dakota State or Rice in the baseball field. The Ducks are more familiar with San Francisco having played and beaten them four times since the program was reinstated.

Coach Horton will be coaching in his 14th Regional this weekend. He is 35-13 in his previous 13 regionals. He has won 8 of them to advance to the Super Regional round. Oregon is also closing in on the school record for Wins. They have a chance to tie that record on Friday night against South Dakota State, a victory on Saturday breaks it.

Oregon takes on South Dakota State on Friday at 6pm PT. In case you missed the report from earlier this month, ESPN is featuring coverage of ALL College World Series action this year for the first time on ESPN3.com

Oregon Ducks This Week: