Sunday's rubber match between No. 13 Oregon and top-ranked UCLA is shaping up to be a classic. After a roller-coaster weekend at Jackie Robinson Stadium, the Ducks have a golden opportunity to make a statement against the nation's best team.
The series couldn't have started worse for Oregon. Friday night was a nightmare—just three hits and an 11-run beatdown that ended early via the run rule. But Saturday showed what this team is made of. Down 4-0 in the first inning, the Ducks refused to fold. A massive three-run homer from Naulivou Lauaki Jr. tied things up in the second, setting the stage for a back-and-forth thriller.
UCLA's star shortstop Roch Cholowsky went deep twice, but Oregon's pitching staff hung tough. Then came the eighth inning. A four-run rally, capped by a clutch three-run double from Jack Brooks at the bottom of the order, flipped the game completely. Tanner Bradley slammed the door with 2⅓ scoreless innings, delivering the Ducks' biggest win of the season. The loss snapped UCLA's 27-game Big Ten win streak—tied for the longest in conference history.
Now, it all comes down to Sunday. Oregon will send left-hander Miles Gosztola to the mound. The Gonzaga transfer has taken over Sunday duties after starting the year in the midweek role. He's coming off a solid outing against Washington, allowing two runs with four strikeouts over 4⅔ innings. For UCLA, right-hander Landon Stump gets the ball. The junior has struggled lately, surrendering 11 runs and failing to make it through the fourth inning in his last two starts.
A win today would be huge for Oregon's postseason hopes. Taking a series from the No. 1 team in the country would go a long way toward locking up a regional host spot. The Ducks have already proven they can hang with the best—now they need to finish the job.
Stay tuned for live inning-by-inning updates from what promises to be an electric Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles.
