Sanford's Gem Sends Ducks To Regional Final

Saturday, May 30

6:00 PM

University of Oregon

42-16

Washington State

31-27

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Oregon	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	4	7	0
Washington State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0

05/30/26 | Baseball

Box Score #11 Oregon 4, Washington State 0 Tournament Central Photo Gallery

By: Nate Krueger

EUGENE, Ore. — The Oregon Ducks are a win away from the NCAA Super Regionals and, one way or another, they are going to have to get through a familiar opponent to move on to the next round.

The No. 11 seed UO baseball team improved to 2-0 in the NCAA Eugene Regional with a 4-0 win over Washington State on Saturday in front of a sellout crowd at PK Park, putting the Ducks in the driver's seat in the four-team, double-elimination tournament.

Oregon (42-16) will play in the regional final on Sunday at 6 p.m. in what will either be a rematch with Washington State (31-27) or a showdown with in-state rival Oregon State. The Cougars and Beavers will play first on Sunday in an elimination game at 1 p.m., with the winner staying alive to face the Ducks in the nightcap and needing a win to force a winner-take-all game seven on Monday.

"Really competitive game tonight," head coach Mark Wasikowski said. "They have a really, really good team and they pitched really well. They were competitive, and I was really excited about the effort that the club that I represent gave … I just love this team. I think these guys are really, really good. Excited to play for a regional championship tomorrow."
Sanford_PK_WSU

The Ducks were led by a brilliant performance from starting pitcher Will Sanford (9-2), who struck out a career-high 14 batters while surrendering just one hit across 6.1 scoreless innings. Tanner Bradley and Devin Bell followed Sanford with 2.2 scoreless inning of relief and five more strikeouts to give the UO staff 19 total punchouts on the night.

"The pitching performance of all three guys that touched the mound tonight," Wasikowski said, "I thought that was really remarkable."

Jax Gimenez delivered a clutch RBI single in the fifth inning to give Oregon the lead, and Naulivou Lauaki Jr. crushed a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to give the Ducks all the cushion they needed. Bradley relieved Sanford and threw 1.2 scoreless innings before giving way to Bell, who slammed the door in the ninth inning and sent 4,278 fans home happy and eager to return on Sunday.

"That environment PK brought tonight with the crowd and how competitive it was, it was unmatched," Gimenez said. "It's the best there is in the country."
PK Crowd_WSU

How it Happened: Sanford and Washington State starter Luke Meyers (4-5) were locked in a pitcher's duel from the get-go. Oregon was the assigned visiting team on Saturday, and Meyers needed just six pitches to get through the top of the Ducks' lineup.

Sanford upped the ante in the bottom half, striking out the side on 16 pitches while filling up the zone with 10 strikes. He would strike out the first five batters he faced and racked up seven punchouts through three scoreless innings while allowing just one baserunner on a hit batter.

The San Diego native ran his strikeout total up to 10 after striking out the side in the fourth, and the Ducks' offense broke through against Meyers in the top of the fifth. Burke-Lee Mabeus ripped a one-out double to give Oregon its first baserunner of the game, and Gimenez scored him with an RBI single through the right side.

The clutch knock was momentous for Gimenez, who picked up his first hit since April 22 after going more than a month without an at-bat while battling an injury.

"I just really wanted the moment when I was on deck," Gimenez said. "Burke with a really good at-bat in front with a double and Maddox (Molony) works a great walk, so some really good at-bats in front of myself to put me in that position and just really excited to come through for the team."

Sanford struck out the first batter he faced in the bottom of the fifth, extending his punchout streak to six in a row. A walk and Washington State's first hit of the game gave the Cougars two runners on with two outs, but Sanford thwarted the threat with strikeout No. 12.
Sanford_WSU2

Sanford cruised through a 1-2-3 sixth inning while notching his career-high 13th strikeout of the night, raising his hands to the sky as he walked off the mound. He added to that total with No. 14 to start the seventh before issuing his second walk, after which he left to a standing ovation from the PK Park faithful.

"It just gives me more confidence and more belief in myself," Sanford said. "There is no tired when you have a crowd like that. Pure adrenaline, it was great. I just love it."

Bradley took over for Sanford with one on and one out and quickly ended the inning with a groundout and a strikeout. He then needed just 10 pitches for a 1-2-3 eighth inning while adding two more strikeouts.

Angel Laya opened the ninth inning with a single and a walk to Brayden Jaksa set the stage for Lauaki, who once again showed off his prodigious power with a three-run homer to right-center field. The freshman matched Laya for the most home runs in a season by a UO freshman with 14, all coming in the last 26 games.
Lauaki HR vs. WSU Regionals 3

"Same approach as always," Lauaki said. "Stick right side, don't get too big and just hunt my pitch."

Bell worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth and struck out the final two batters to secure Oregon's spot in the regional final. Oregon's pitchers combined for 19 strikeouts while allowing just two hits with two walks in UO's ninth shutout win of the season.

"We have one of the best staffs in the country," Sanford said. "Every time someone comes in there's no doubt they're going to get it done. Tanner and (Devin) tonight were amazing and it was just fun to watch, especially Tanner picking me up in the seventh."

Box Score Notes: Sanford delivered one of the most dominant starts in UO postseason history, tying for the most strikeouts by a Duck in a NCAA Regional and tying for the fourth-most in UO single-game history … Sanford became the first Duck to strike out six consecutive batters since Brock Moore on April 30, 2024 … Sanford's first strikeout of the game was a strikeout looking to give him 33 on the season, breaking a tie with David Peterson (2017) for the most in UO single-season history … Sanford passed Tyler Anderson (114, 2011) for No. 2 in UO single-season history with 119 strikeouts … Oregon's pitching staff matched its season high with 19 total strikeouts … Lauaki now has two home runs and seven RBIs in two NCAA Regional games … Gimenez finished 2-for-3 his 11th multi-hit game of the season.

On Deck: Oregon State and Washington State will play an elimination game at 1 p.m. on Sunday at PK Park, with the winner advancing to face Oregon in the regional final at 6 p.m. Both games will be on ESPN+.