Tag: Oregon baseball

Bryce Boettcher’s supercharged effort makes him the Ducks Wire Player of the Game

After a stunning 11-tackle performance, Oregon Ducks LB Bryce Boettcher earns the Ducks Wire Player of the Game.

The best college football recruits — the ones with five stars next to their name — typically come from a handful of recruiting hotspots such as Texas, Florida, and California. The Oregon Ducks are filled with 5-and-4 stars from those football factories, but on occasion, the Ducks’ most important players come from places much closer to home.

So many players made massive contributions in Oregon’s 49-21 victory against the Washington Huskies — the Ducks’ first in three years — but Bryce Boettcher, who was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, shined above the rest. With 11 tackles, 2 TFLs, a sack, and a forced fumble, Boettcher’s performance was the best performance by an Oregon defender of the day and perhaps the season.

Boettcher’s forced fumble may have been the most important play of the game. Oregon was struggling for momentum early on against the Huskies, leading 7-6. After a few drives, the Ducks punched in a second touchdown, making the score 14-6 in the second quarter.

On the first play of Washington’s following drive, Boettcher flicked the ball out of Huskies’ RB Jonah Coleman’s hands, allowing Derrick Harmon to recover the fumble. The Ducks quickly extended the score to 21-6 with a Jordan James touchdown, and the Huskies were zapped of momentum from that point on.

Growing up in Eugene, Boettcher excelled in many sports, but his talents were always brightest on the baseball diamond. In high school, Boettcher earned an offer to play baseball at Oregon, and after enrolling at UO, he worked hard to make the Ducks football team.

Boettcher’s first football season in 2022 was uneventful, but in 2023, and especially 2024, Boettcher has been an invaluable member of the Oregon defense. Over the last two seasons, Boettcher has compiled 119 tackles, 10 TFLs, 3 sacks, a pick, and two forced fumbles. His total of 11 tackles on his senior night against the Huskies is tied for the most in his career.

His other 11-tackle game? Oregon’s other rivalry matchup of 2024: the Ducks win over Oregon State Beavers on Sep. 14th.

After the 2024 baseball season, Boettcher was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 2024 MLB Draft. Despite a strong 2023, Boettcher’s play in centerfield was still seen as his primary talent. These days, it’s hard to know if Boettcher is more valuable in football or baseball, but against Washington, he showed he has the chops to play football at the pro level.

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Bryce Boettcher awarded with the collegiate Gold Glove

Oregon centerfielder Bryce Boettcher was awarded with the collegiate Gold Glove for the 2024 season.

On the day after the greatest centerfielder that ever played the game, Willie Mays, passed away at the age of 93, Oregon’s own centerfielder was recognized for having a little of Mays inside him.

Bryce Boettcher was awarded with the Division I Collegiate Gold Glove.

Oregon fans are used to watching Boettcher run through running backs as a linebacker on the football field, but on the diamond, he runs though and goes above walls to rob home runs and make diving catches.

Boettcher was most recently seen in Arizona showing off his skills at the MLB combine where he hopes to catch some eyes in order to be drafted later this month. He had a fielding percentage of 1.000 as Boettcher didn’t make an error all season and had six assists in the outfield.

At the plate, the senior from Eugene hit .276 with 12 homers and 35 runs batted in.

Oregon pitching implodes and Omaha eludes Ducks again

Oregon was in position to force a Game 3 in the Super Regional, but the Aggies score nine runs in the seventh to end the Ducks’ season.

It’s an inning that will go down in Oregon baseball history and that’s not a good thing.

Once up 8-4 in the seventh inning in Game 2 of the Bryan-College Station Super Regional against Texas A&M, the Ducks’ pitching absolutely imploded as they saw the Aggies score nine runs on just two hits to take the 13-8 lead and the eventual 15-9 win.

Brock Moore, who threw two innings beforehand, walked in three runs and forced another in before finally being relieved by Jaxson Jordan. It got worse after that as Jordan walked in a run and allowed a Kaeden Kent grand slam to account for the nine-run frame.

Oregon’s season is over as a trip to Omaha and the College World Series eludes the program once again. They’ve had three chances and have yet advance past the Super Regional round.

This one hurts almost as much as last season when the Ducks were two outs away from going to Omaha. The Ducks were in position to win both of these games as they were up 6-3 in Game 1 and 7-2 in Game 2 before blowing both leads.

Oregon got off to a hot start in the first inning when the Ducks scored four runs on back-to-back-to-back home runs from Chase Meggers, Drew Smith and Anson Aroz.

The Ducks added on in the second when they pulled off a perfect double steal that saw Bryce Boettcher steal home and the 5-2 lead. Oregon scored two more on an error and a Carter Garate single to center.

Dominic Hellman made it 8-4 with a single to left-center field right before all heck broke loose the very next half-inning. Hellman ended his night with an absolute bomb in the bottom of the eighth to left field to make it 15-9.

Ducks drop Game 1 of Bryan-College Station Super Regional

Oregon’s pitching wasn’t up to the task as the Ducks fell to Texas A&M 10-6 in Game 1 of the Bryan-College Station Super Regional.

The Oregon Ducks baseball team won the Santa Barbara Regional with pitching and defense and they were hoping for much of the same this weekend in the Bryan-College Station Super Regional.

Neither was present in Game 1 Saturday afternoon as the Ducks dropped the opener to Texas A&M 10-6.

Starting pitcher RJ Gordon, who was brilliant last week against San Diego, didn’t have his best stuff on the mound and he struggled to get through four innings. The Aggies hit him around for seven runs, six earned, nine hits and most importantly, four walks that all came around to score.

By the time Gordon exited the game, it was 7-6 Aggies. Ryan Featherston came in from the bullpen and it didn’t get much better. He got out of the third, but walked the bases loaded in the fourth before Logan Mercado came in. He managed to limit the damage somewhat, but all three runners scored and it was 10-6 after five innings of play.

Mercado stayed in and held the Aggies off the board. But after a promising start from the Oregon bats, they were held scoreless from the third inning on.

The Ducks got to Texas A&M ace Ryan Prager right from the get-go. Anson Aroz got the fireworks started in the top of the first with a two-run homer that sailed over the scoreboard in left-center field.

After the Aggies took a 3-2 lead. the Ducks answered with four runs in the second. Aroz’s single gave the Ducks the 4-3 lead and Chase Meggers’ double to the wall made it 6-3.

In the middle of all the scoring early on, Texas A&M’s top player, Braden Mongomery injured his leg sliding into home. He was helped off the field and was fitted with an air cast. He came into the series with 27 homers and 85 RBI.

Grayson Grinsell is expected to start Game 2 on the mound with the hopes of keeping the Ducks’ season alive. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 pm PST on ESPN2 on Sunday.

Oregon pitching vs Aggie hitting will determine Super Regional

The Texas A&M Aggies have a powerful offense, but the defense could be suspect and exploited by the Ducks in the Super Regionals.

Meet Braden Montgomery of the Texas A&M Aggies. He is a transfer from Stanford and has 27 home runs and 85 runs driven in.

This year.

And Montgomery doesn’t even lead his team in homers. That distinction goes to Jace LaViolette, who has 28 dingers for the season to go with 74 RBIs and a .315 batting average.

By comparison, Oregon’s leading power hitter, Jacob Walsh, tied the single-season home run mark at 18 this past weekend. He also has 56 RBIs.

But back to Montgomery. He also leads the Aggies with a .322 batting average. He is far from being a one-man gang in the Texas A&M lineup. They also boast Gavin Grahovac and his 22 homers to go with his 63 RBIs.

As with most cases when the baseball tournament reaches the Super Regionals, it’s going to be good pitching against good hitting and whichever wins out will advance to Omaha.

Texas A&M has some solid pitching as well and they should be a tough task for the Oregon offense. The ace, lefty Ryan Prager, leads the team with a 8-1 record and a 2.53 earned run average. He’s expected to start Game 1 on Saturday.

Tanner Jones is their No. 2 starter with a 3-1 record and a hefty 6.22 ERA. It’s been a tough season for Jones as he has been knocked out of the game before the fifth inning in every start except a win over Vanderbilt when he went 7.1 innings in the 9-0 win in mid-April.

As for the third starter, Justin Lamkin, the lefty is 2-2 with a 5.73 ERA.

While the second and third starters are a bit questionable and hittable, the Aggies do possess one of the best closers in the nation with senior Evan Aschenbeck. He is 6-1 on the season with seven saves and an ERA of 1.64. If he should come into the game in a save situation, it’s usually lights out for the opposition.

Oregon is planning not to put itself in that particular situation at any time this weekend. If the Ducks are facing Aschenbeck, the season could very well hang in the balance.

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How to buy Texas A&M NCAA Super Regional tickets

Texas A&M and Oregon will square off in an NCAA Super Regional in College Station. Limited tickets are now available.

Two different paths, two hot teams, one spot available in the College World Series.

The Texas A&M Aggies rolled through their NCAA Regional, eliminating all three teams they played without dropping a game. The Oregon Ducks did the same thing, but as an underdog, twice defeating the top seed and Regional host UCSB.

The Aggies will now host the Ducks in a best-of-three game series, with the winner advancing to the College World Series in Omaha.

SHOP: Texas A&M vs. Oregon Super Regional tickets

Tickets are already on sale for the Aggies’ home matchup with the Ducks, including an All-Session pass that grants access to every game of the series.

Tickets for individual Super Regional games are also available, for as little as $140 per game.

Cheer on the Aggies or the Ducks in person as both teams try to earn one of the coveted final spots in the College World Series.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Texas A&M vs. Oregon Super Regional tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/QLyj9b2″]

How to buy Texas A&M vs Oregon NCAA Super Regional tickets

Texas A&M and Oregon will square off in an NCAA Super Regional in College Station. Limited tickets are now available.

Two different paths, two hot teams, one spot available in the College World Series.

The Texas A&M Aggies rolled through their NCAA Regional, eliminating all three teams they played without dropping a game. The Oregon Ducks did the same thing, but as an underdog, twice defeating the top seed and Regional host UCSB.

The Aggies will now host the Ducks in a best-of-three game series, with the winner advancing to the College World Series in Omaha.

SHOP: Texas A&M vs. Oregon Super Regional tickets

Tickets are already on sale for the Aggies’ home matchup with the Ducks, including an All-Session pass that grants access to every game of the series.

Tickets for individual Super Regional games are also available, for as little as $140 per game.

Cheer on the Aggies or the Ducks in person as both teams try to earn one of the coveted final spots in the College World Series.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Texas A&M vs. Oregon Super Regional tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/QLyj9b2″]

How to buy Oregon NCAA Super Regional tickets

Oregon and Texas A&M will square off in an NCAA Super Regional in College Station. Limited tickets are now available.

Two different paths, two hot teams, one spot available in the College World Series.

The Texas A&M Aggies rolled through their NCAA Regional, eliminating all three teams they played without dropping a game. The Oregon Ducks did the same thing, but as an underdog, twice defeating the top seed and Regional host UCSB.

The Aggies will now host the Ducks in a best-of-three game series, with the winner advancing to the College World Series in Omaha.

SHOP: Oregon vs. Texas A&M Super Regional tickets

Tickets are already on sale for the Aggies’ home matchup with the Ducks, including an All-Session pass that grants access to every game of the series.

Tickets for individual Super Regional games are also available, for as little as $140 per game.

Cheer on the Aggies or the Ducks in person as both teams try to earn one of the coveted final spots in the College World Series.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Oregon vs. Texas A&M Super Regional tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/QLyj9b2″]

Kevin Seitter pitches the Ducks into the Super Regionals

Oregon starter Kevin Seitter pitches an absolute gem to send the Ducks into the Super Regionals.

It took a grand total of 128 pitches, but Oregon’s Kevin Seitter pitched the game of his life to send the Oregon Ducks to the Super Regionals with a 3-0 win over Santa Barbara.

Oregon will now go to College Station, Texas to face Texas A&M with a trip to the College World Series in Omaha on the line.

The Ducks went a perfect 3-0 in the Santa Barbara Regional with a win over San Diego and two straight wins over the host Gauchos. These two losses were the only losses UCSB suffered at home this season.

Oregon gave Seitter a run right away in the first when Drew Smith singled to left to score Mason Neville from second base for the early 1-0 lead. It stayed that way until the fifth as Neville singled to center to chase home Bryce Boettcher and it was 2-0 Ducks.

As it turned out, that was more than enough for Seitter on the mound. He went the entire way for the complete game shut out. He gave up just four hits and struck out seven. Two of those hits came in the ninth inning. Before that last frame, the Gauchos didn’t have a runner reach second base. That’s how dominant Seitter was.

Just for good measure, Jacob Walsh tied the single-season home run record in the seventh inning with his 18th blast of the year. He equals Sabin Ceballos’ mark from last season with a bomb to right-center.

Things got a bit tense in the ninth after Seitter got the first two batters out. Aaron Parker and Zander Darby singled to put runners on the corners. But Seitter bore down and struck out Jonah Sebring to end the game and to let the celebration begin.

Oregon baseball given overwhelming odds to win Santa Barbara Regional

The Oregon Ducks have overwhelming odds to win the Santa Barbara regional and advance to the Super Regionals.

The Oregon Ducks baseball team defied odds so far and won their first two games in the Santa Barbara Regional, beating San Diego and Santa Barbara in dramatic fashion to advance to the Regional Final.

On Friday afternoon, center fielder Bryce Boettcher hit a go-ahead homerun in the top of the 11th inning to send the Tritons into the loser’s bracket, and then a dominant pitching performance on Saturday night let Oregon squeak past the Gauchos.

Now, the Ducks will face a rematch against one of the two teams in the final on Sunday night, and according to the latest simulation odds from college sports analyst Parker Fleming, they have an overwhelming chance to get to the super regionals.

As a result of winning their first two games, the Ducks are in an advantageous position, as they can still lose a game and stay alive thanks to the double-elimination nature of the tournament. However, it will only take one win on Sunday night to advance to the Super Regionals.

San Diego and Santa Barbara play at noon on ESPNU, and the winner will go on to face Oregon in the regional final at 6 p.m. Should the Ducks lose that game, the final will take place on Monday.

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