Oregon Ducks Open NCAA Tournament Against Utah Valley

EUGENE, Oregon – The Oregon Ducks baseball team is set to face Utah Valley in the NCAA tournament on Friday, starting at 6 p.m. This matchup marks a pivotal moment for the Ducks, who finished the season with a 42-14 record. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

Oregon enters this regional contest as champions of the Big Ten, boasting a 22-8 record in conference play. Head Coach Mark Wasikowski emphasized that this is the most complete team he has coached, and they aim to reach the College World Series for the first time since the program’s revival in 2009.

Utah Valley, under first-year Head Coach Nate Rasmussen, has a 32-27 record after finishing third in the WAC with a 13-11 mark. The Wolverines secured their spot in the NCAA tournament by winning several key games in the conference tournament, including two victories against Abilene Christian and the top seed, Sacramento State.

The tournament will kick off with an earlier game featuring Arizona against Cal Poly at 1 p.m., also on ESPN. Winners of Friday’s matchups will advance to play on Saturday, while the losers will face off earlier in the day.

Oregon’s strong offense and improving pitching give them a competitive edge. As they prepare for this exciting regional, all eyes will be on the Ducks as they seek their first Super Regional appearance.

“This is the deepest team we’ve had, and we’re ready for a run,” said Wasikowski.