Unfortunately, things didn't go all too great for Mark Wasikowski and the Oregon Ducks in College Station on Saturday afternoon. The Oregon baseball team saw its College World Series hopes take bit of a hit when the Ducks fell to the Texas A&M Aggies in the opening game of the 2024 Bryan-College Station Super Regional.
What makes this loss especially frustrating for Oregon baseball fans is that early on it seemed as if the Ducks would be able to go toe-to-toe with the juggernaut that is the Texas A&M Aggies baseball team.
And for the most part, they seemed capable of contending. Oregon got off to a promising start and grabbed a 6-3 lead over the Aggies in the second inning. Anson Aroz provided a jumpstart when he launched a two-run home run in the first inning and then added another run via a single in the Ducks' four-run second inning.
But the Ducks were unable to sustain that sort of momentum as the game wore on.
Oregon baseball recap: Ducks drop game 1 of 2024 College Station Super Regional to Texas A&M Aggies
The Aggies were able to take advantage of nine walks and a couple errors by the Ducks, which gave Texas A&M a chance to gain the lead. And while the Ducks' pitchers struggled down the stretch of the game, A&M's bullpen was able to stymie Oregon's offense after the second inning.
Chris Cortez entered the game, threw 5.2 innings, and struck out 10 batters while holding the Ducks to just two hits and three walks.
Now Oregon faces elimination. The Ducks are in a must-win situation if they want to keep this fantastic Oregon baseball season going. As Oregon gears up for game two of the College Station Super Regional, Grayson Grinsell is set to take the mound hoping to put the Ducks in position to even the series and force a game three situation.
Oregon baseball vs. Texas A&M baseball: College Station Super Regional Game 2
- Who: Oregon Ducks vs. Texas A&M Aggies
- When: Sunday, June 9 at 4:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. Central Time)
- Where: Blue Bell Field in College Station, Texas
- What: Bryan-College Station Super Regional, 2024 NCAA Baseball Tournament
- TV channel: ESPN2
- Live stream: WatchESPN
- Radio: Oregon Sports Network
But Oregon is finding out why Texas A&M has only lost three home games all season. Blue Bell Park is a tough venue and it'll be even tougher on Sunday as the Aggies look to lock up a trip to Omaha for the Men's College World Series.
Oregon has to regroup quickly or this season is over.