Ducks Drop Series Opener In Extras

Thursday, May 14

Eugene, Ore.

7:05 p.m.

University of Oregon

36-15, 18-10

USC

42-12, 20-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
USC	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	6	1
Oregon	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	9	0

Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com

05/14/26 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score: #17 USC 2, #16 Oregon 1 Oregon Baseball Stats Photo Gallery

Oregon fell 2-1 to USC in extra innings Thursday at PK Park.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon rallied to force extra innings and then loaded the bases with one out in the 11th, but a sinking line drive off the bat of Jack Brooks was snared in left field to give USC a 2-1 victory Thursday at PK Park.

The Trojans won the opener of a series between two top-20 teams nationally, and two teams battling both for position in the Big Ten standings and for seeding in the conference tournament. No. 17 USC topped the No. 16 Ducks thanks to a dominant start from left-hander Mason Edwards and some extra-inning theater in the 11th.

"It took a diving play to win the game for USC," UO coach Mark Wasikowski said. "Very good college baseball game all the way around — two really good teams, dominant pitching, and yeah, a lot of grit in this one."

The Ducks fell to 36-15 on the season and 18-10 in the Big Ten. They entered Thursday a game behind USC for third place in the conference, and enter Friday's second game of the series two gams back of the Trojans, tied with Purdue for fourth.

Junior Jube

"The last two games that we've played, we haven't had good results and we've had unbelievable efforts," said Wasikowski, whose team lost Sunday at No. 1 UCLA in the rubber match of that series. "We've been very proud of the team that I've coached now for the last several games — all year, to be honest with you — but geez, these last two games have been really tough."

Oregon's loss came despite a strong start by Cal Scolari, two shutout innings of relief from Toby Twist and a homer by Naulivou Lauaki Jr. in the ninth to force extras. Tanner Bradley (5-1) took his first loss of the season despite four solid innings, giving up the go-ahead solo homer in the top of the 11th.

How It Happened: The Trojans took the early lead after a leadoff double in the second, making it 1-0 on a sacrifice bunt after the baserunner had been singled to third. That was the only damage in five innings off Scolari, who was making his first start in more than a month.

Scolari Pitch

"Hopefully he can continue to build up his pitch count for the weeks to come, which is really important," Wasikowski said.

Edwards threw six shutout innings for the Trojans, striking out 12. He struck out three in a row in the third after a leadoff walk and a Ryan Cooney double put two runners in scoring position with nobody out.

"The pitching on both sides was really good," Wasikowski said.

Lauaki hit his ninth homer of the season on the first pitch in the bottom of the ninth, off a USC pitcher who'd recorded the previous four outs.

Junior Bench Jube

"The pitcher had been pounding strikes in the middle and away part of the plate, and so we told him flat-out, we're not taking here," Wasikowski said. "We want something out over the plate, we want you to drive it that way, and he executed the plan perfectly. So credit to Junior."

After both sides were retired in order in the 10th, USC led off the 11th with a home run. In the bottom of the inning, Drew Smith and Brayden Jaksa both singled before advancing on a one-out wild pitch. Burke-Lee Mabeus was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out, but a strikeout and Brooks' lineout to left ended the rally.

Up next: The teams meet again in game two Friday (6 p.m., B1G+).