Oregon Ducks News: Pritchard Pours in 34, Softball on TV, Football substance

Pritchard achieves Celtic milestone

Pro Duck Payton Pritchard scored 34 points on 14-25 shooting to lead the Boston reserves to a 93-86 win over Charlotte at TD Garden Sunday.

The former Oregon star joined Antoine Walker as the only player in Celtic history to make 200+ three-point shots and collect over 100 offensive rebounds in a season.

Neither team played its starters in the final game of the regular season, but Pritchard led the Celtic reserves with his 30-piece, plus seven assists, seven rebounds and a steal.

He's a heavy favorite for the NBA's Sixth Man Award, typically announced in mid to late April. The defending champions begin their playoff run on Sunday April 20 with a best-of-seven series against the winner of the play-in game between Atlanta and Orlando.

Softball Ducks book two TV dates

Melyssa Lombardi's No. 4-ranked, 38-4 Ducks have two primetime TV matchups this week.

On Wednesday they make the short trip to Corvallis to take on the Oregon State Beavers, 16-16 this season.

That game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and KWVA radio, 6 p.m. PDT first pitch.

Friday April 18 the Lady Webfoots begin a three-game home series with UCLA at Jane Sanders Stadium, 7 p.m. PDT on the Big Ten Network.

Ranked No. 7 in last week's ESPN/USA Softball Poll, the Bruins are tied with the Ducks for first place in the Big Ten at 12-1 after the conclusion of play Sunday.

Oregon swept a three-game series at Minnesota Sunday with a 5-4 victory. Aryanna Shaw's two-out, two-rbi single in the fifth inning paced the offense, then Shaw stole second and scored on a single by Braiesey Rosa for a 5-0 lead.

Kedre Luschar got the Ducks started in the second with a two-run homer. After starter Lyndsey Grein ran into trouble in the sixth, loading the bases and giving up a Grand Slam that made it 5-4, Elise Sokolsky came on in relief and recorded the last six outs for the save, striking out three.

Wyndham Clark finishes T46 at the Masters

In his second-ever start at Augusta, former Oregon golfer and 2023 U.S. Open Champion Wyndham Clark made the cut for the first time and shot a final-round 74 to finish at +5, tied for 46th at the 89th Masters Golf Tournament.

He earned $61,180 in prize money, bringing his 2025 PGA tour earnings to $1,168,810, 54th on the official money list.

Ireland's Rory McIlroy won the tournament in a playoff over Justin Rose of Britain after the two tied after 72 holes at -11. McIlroy birdied the first extra hole for a sudden-death victory, his fifth major title and a career Grand Slam.

The Grand Slam, winning all four majors over a career, has only been achieved by six golfers in the sport's history: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods prior to McIroy.

Clark is in the field for the next major on the calendar, the PGA Championship on May 15-18 at Quail Hollow Golf and Country Club in Charlotte, N.C.

Oregon football: Not rooted in buying players, but building culture

In his Sunday Morning Sidewalk feature Duck Sports Authority columnist and publisher Scott Reed points out that the strength of the Oregon program lies not in NIL largesse but in a commitment to development and competition.

Reed writes:

Lanning’s message has been consistent from the start: earn it first. NIL isn’t ignored — it’s embraced — but the emphasis is placed on value as defined by contribution, growth, and accountability. Players who perform will benefit. Players who lead will rise. That expectation sets the tone for everything else.

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