The Oregon Ducks fought to the end in a heartbreaking finale to an exciting season

After an all-around abysmal showing on Saturday Night, the Oregon Ducks came into Sunday Night with their backs against the wall and the season on the line. Considering the fact that Oregon hasn't lost back-to-back games to the same team at any point in the season, it was impossible to rule them out. A driving force behind Oregon's confidence was the fact that Will Sanford was getting the ball coming off his best showing of the season against Washington State in the Eugene Regional.

When Will Sanford jumped out to an early 0-2 count against Aiden Robbins, it looked like a welcome change for the Ducks. Instead, Robbins blasted a leadoff home run followed by a home run from Carson Tinney, which quickly brought back the feeling of impending doom. In the 2nd inning, Sanford looked a lot like what Oregon's pitchers looked like Saturday with a pair of walks coming back to cost him and put the Ducks in a 4-0 hole before the game even felt like it started.

How Oregon rebounded from an early disaster

While Will Sanford struggled to start his outing, he ended up going 3.2 innings for the Ducks, which felt much longer than he was going to last. It was fitting for this Super Regional that Sanford left the game with the bases loaded, and Tanner Bradley started his first batter off with a 3-0 count before a pivotal strikeout, which set the tone for the rest of his night.

The Ducks started their scoring much earlier than in Game 1, as Drew Smith led off the 2nd inning with a double before Junior Lauaki beat the shift with maybe the slowest hit ball of his life to make it 4-1, favoring the Longhorns.

After watching Will Sanford and Tanner Bradley battle in the 3rd inning, the offense seemed to find a spark. Jax Gimenez made an incredible play in foul territory at the top of the inning and led the bottom half off with a walk. After two quick outs, Drew Smith delivered a double again, putting the Ducks within 2 runs before Brayden Jaksa singled to make it 4-3, favoring Texas.

In the 5th inning, the Ducks finally erased the major hole they put themselves in as Angel Laya and Ryan Cooney singled, followed by a questionable decision by the staff to bunt Drew Smith, but it worked out putting, two in scoring position. The bases were loaded for Burke-Lee Mabeus, and he brought the run home on a ground out.

The reason that Oregon was able to claw back into this game was the fact that Tanner Bradley delivered an incredible relief outing when the Ducks needed it most. Texas never looked comfortable, as even the broadcast booth was wowed by the movement on his changeups. Bradley gave the Ducks 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball, striking out 5 while allowing just two base runners.

Just as Bradley's night was ending, the Oregon offense put him in a position to earn a win for his impressive outing. Ryan Cooney led the 7th inning off with a double off the wall and was gifted 3rd base on a wild pitch. The Ducks were able to cash in, unlike on Saturday Night when Brayden Jaksa put the ball in play for an out but gave the Ducks the lead.

Post Tanner Bradley the Ducks pen didn't have their A-Game

After Bradley's night was finished, Mark Wasikowski was tasked with playing chess with his bullpen to force a Game 3. Toby Twist gave the Ducks two quick outs, but after walking a Longhorn, Devin Bell was brought in to try and secure a 4 out save.

Devin Bell instantly looked shaky for the Ducks with a hit by pitch and a single loading the bases before Texas vaulted ahead of Oregon on a double down the left field line which scored a pair. Bell would walk another, before recording a loud out in centerfield to keep the game at 6-5 for the Texas.

Giving up the lead meant that Texas could bring in outstanding closer Sam Cozart to try and get the final 6 outs of the game. Cozart came out and quickly retired the Ducks in order which was matched by Devin Bell to quickly put the pressure back on the Texas star to try and send the Longhorns to Omaha.

Gimenez, Laya, and Cooney all went down in order leaving the red hot Senior Drew Smith in the on-deck circle as the season came to an end.

The Ducks battled and gave their all in this game, but in the end, they didn't have enough to get this game across the finish line. Tanner Bradley's incredible showing was more than worthy of moving the Ducks on, and the fact that the team couldn't finish off the win is heartbreaking for the reliever. This game started so terribly that the Ducks easily could've ended up quitting early, but the team battled the entire night.

There are plenty of decisions that will be questioned from bunting Drew Smith in the 5th inning when he was red hot, opting to choose to play for one run rather than looking to do major damage to pulling Toby Twist so quickly. In the end, the Ducks didn't have enough to overcome a loaded Texas team, and now the staff will have to quickly jump into the Transfer Portal to start building the roster for next season.

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