Oregon Ducks baseball team achieved a narrow 4-3 victory over USC, forcing a decisive game 3 in their series. Pitcher Will Sanford delivered a strong performance, striking out three batters and pitching six innings despite an early deficit.
Key points
Oregon Ducks defeated USC 4-3
Will Sanford pitched six innings
Oregon faced an early 2-0 deficit
The win forced a decisive game 3
Game took place at PK Park
Mentioned in this story
PK Park
Oregon DucksUSC TrojansNCAA
Oregon pitcher Taylour Spencer throws out a pitch as the Oregon Ducks host the Idaho State Bengals in an NCAA regional on May 15, 2026, at Jane Sanders Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Baseball vs. USC Game 2: Ducks 4, Trojans 3
Oregon looked to put a disappointing opening game loss behind them and force a decisive game 3 against USC at PK Park. Will Sanford started on the mound and would end up pitching six whole innings. He got off to a hot start, striking out three consecutive batters in the top of the first. The Ducks faced an early deficit in the second inning when Sanford looked as though he may be in trouble. Aided by a walk and a wild pitch the Trojans put two runs on the board with a triple and a pair of singles. Sanford quickly found his groove again and retired the side in the top of the third. It was fortunate the damage on defense was limited as none of Oregonâs first nine batters got on base, leaving the Ducks facing a 2-0 deficit heading into the fourth inning.
â Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) May 16, 2026
Another 3-up, 3-down from Sanford in the top of the fourth brought the Ducks back to the plate and it was time for USCâs defense to have an off inning of their own. Ryan Cooney reached third base on a fielding error and Drew Smith made it to first on a walk. That meant three runs came in when Brayden Jackson homered on the very next at bat.
â Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) May 16, 2026
Sanford continued his strong performance and retired the side in both the fifth and sixth innings. The Ducks hit a single and got another runner on base with a walk in the bottom of the fifth before a pitching change by USC shut down their offense. At the the end of six Oregon was holding on to the lead at 4-2.
â Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) May 16, 2026
With Sanford having pitched six full innings the Ducks went to their bull pen. Collin Clarke was first up in relief and got into trouble against loaded bases with two outs. Facing the prospect of the lead evaporating with a single hit, Luke Morgan came to the mound and got the final out on a pop-fly. USC stayed with their second pitcher and their faith was rewarded as Oregonâs couldnât get any runners on base in the bottom of the seventh. In the top of the eighth the Ducks Jonah Barkoff took the mound but he was quickly pulled after two walks and foul out. Coming in cold Devin Bell hit the first batter he faced then gave up a run on a fielderâs choice single to cut the lead to 4-3. Having warmed up his arm Bell then struck out the Trojansâ next batter to keep the Ducks in front. It would be up to Bell and the defense to hang on as once again the Ducks went 3-up, 3-down in the bottom of the eighth. Bell answered the call by retiring the side in the ninth inning to clinch the win.
The decisive game 3 will begin tomorrow at 3PM.
Softball vs. Idaho State: Ducks 5, Bengals 1
The softball team began the Eugene Regional at the Jane against an Idaho State squad that had given them trouble in their one meeting during the regular season. The sellout crowd could be forgiven for being nervous at the start: ace pitcher Lyndsay Grein was out with eye infection. Taylour Spencer was given the start in the circle against the Bengals and her nerves may have been showing in the top of the first as the defense gave up a run on a double and a pair of singles. In the bottom of the first the Ducks went 3-up, 3-down. Spencer found her form and retired the side in the top of the second but in the bottom of the inning all Oregon could manage was a base hit by Stephini Maâake. In the third inning the Bengals had a runner in scoring position but a timely strike out by Spencer meant no runners came home. Oregon had a golden opportunity to put points on the board in the bottom of the inning when two walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with only 1 out. Unfortunately Emma Cox proceeded to ground into a double play and going into the fourth inning Oregon trailed 1-0.
YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!
@taylour_spencer with the #SCTop10 worthy snag of a laser headed right back at her.
Both starting pitchers faded in the fourth inning. Spencer got one out but was replaced by Elise Sokolsky after giving up a single. Sokolsky retired the next two Bengals batters. Oregonâs bats finally had Idaho State timed up, loading the bases with a walk and two singles. Ayanna Shawâs grand slam gave the Ducks a 4-1 lead, and Oregon still had three outs to work with.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
Ayanna Shaw's second career homer is a grand slam that gives the Ducks the lead!
Oregon loaded the bases again after a pitching change by the Bengals and an Emma Cox sac-fly brought in Katie Flannery to make it 5-1. The fifth inning was much quieter as both relievers were now in rhythm and neither team put runners in scoring position.
Though Oregonâs bats went cold down the stretch, Sokolsky secured the game by retiring the final six batters she went up against (including four strike outs).
Elise Sokolsky strikes out the side in the top of the sixth!
An opening game win puts the Ducks in the winners bracket where they will face a Mississippi State team from âthe sahft-ball gahdâs own ess-ee-see.â Jokes about regional bias in rankings aside, the Bulldogs figure to be a much greater challenge than the Bengals and Grein is unlikely to be available by tomorrow. Oregon faces the prospect of needing to survive a double elimination round with only three viable pitchers (Spencer, Sokolsky, and Maddie Milhorn). It is vital to get a win at 2PM today to avoid needing to play extra games over the weekend with a depleted bullpen.