Live updates: Oregon baseball opens 2024 season against Oklahoma
The Oregon Ducks made a thrilling postseason run last year and will look to build on that success as they open the 2024 season this afternoon.
The Ducks kick off their season this afternoon against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Shriners College Showdown in Arlington, Texas.
Follow along for live updates throughout the day as the Ducks partake in one of college baseball’s top preseason invitationals.
FINAL: Oregon 4, Oklahoma 2
Ninth Inning
T9
Carter Garate smashed a leadoff single for his first hit off the season. But the Ducks failed to add another run.
B9
Freund stayed on the mound in the ninth and retired Oklahoma’s 6-7-8 hitters in order to slam the door on the Sooners.
Eighth Inning
B8
Oregon reliever Michael Freund replaced Grinsell midway through the frame and made his Oregon debut. He struck out Oklahoma’s cleanup hitter, Pettis, swinging to end the inning.
T8
Oregon took control of the game thanks to some sloppy play from Oklahoma. Walsh led off the inning with a hard-hit single up the middle. Cassella and Hellman followed with consecutive walks to load the bases.
Then, Bennett Thompson grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but Walsh was able to score from third to give the Ducks a 3-2 lead.
Then, Cassella scored on a wild pitch to add an insurance run.
Oregon 4, Oklahoma 2
Seventh Inning
B7
Grinsell worked his way out of a two-out jam with a runner on third to keep the game tied.
In a 2-2 count, he got Spikerman to pop out to first and end the threat.
T7
Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski leaned on his bench in the seventh inning. Jack Brooks pinch-ran for Ryan Cooney after a leadoff walk and immediately stole second. Then, Luke Honikel pinch-hit for Bryce Boettcher with one out and a runner on third.
But Honikel struck out looking.
Then, with two outs, leadoff man Drew Smith struck out looking to end the inning.
Sixth Inning
T6
Oklahoma right-handed reliever Malachi Witherspoon replaced Davis to begin the inning. He worked around a two-out Bennett Thompson single to keep the Ducks scoreless.
B6
Grinsell stayed on in the sixth inning and produced a very good frame to retire the Sooners in order.
Fifth Inning
T5
Davis struck out Oregon 9-1-2 hitters — Boettcher, Smith, and Walsh — in order. It was the Oklahoma starter’s best inning of the day.
B5
Standout left-hander Grayson Grinsell is the first Duck out of the bullpen this season. He replaced Gordon midway through the frame and got Oregon out of a jam to keep the game tied.
Fourth Inning
T4
Jeffrey Heard reached first on a passed ball after a strikeout. The first-year Ducks’ outfielder then swiped the first bag of his Oregon career but was later thrown out trying to steal third.
Then, Carter Garate struck out to end the inning.
B4
Gordon got through a quick 1-2-3 inning that featured a nice play at shortstop from Carter Garate for the first out of the frame.
Third Inning
T3
Oregon two-sport standout Bryce Boettcher led off the inning with a single up the middle, then stole second base. He moved to third on a sac fly, and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Justin Cassella kept the inning alive by working a 10-pitch at-bat that eventually resulted in a walk.
Oregon 2, Oklahoma 0
B3
Oklahoma tagged Gordon early in the inning with a leadoff single from Spikerman followed by a double from Madron to put two runners in scoring position.
Both players scored on sacrifice flies to center field.
Oregon 2, Oklahoma 2
Second Inning
T2
In his first at-bat as a Duck, Sacramento State transfer Jeffery Heard scorched a single to right field.
But he was stranded, as Carter Garate grounded into an inning-ending double play.
B2
Gordon found himself in a jam after surrendering a one-out double and then a walk. But he got Oklahoma’s No. 8 and No. 9 hitters to strikeout and groundout in succession to end the inning.
First Inning
T1
Drew Smith was hit by a pitch to start the game, then advanced to second on a passed ball. With two outs, he scored on a hard-hit single by Dominic Hellman through the right side of the infield.
Oregon 1, Oklahoma 0
B1
RJ Gordon produced his first strikeout in over 18 months when he punched out Pettis looking to end the inning and strand a runner at first. Gordon was sitting 90-92 miles per hour with his fastball throughout the inning.
Pregame
Oregon’s Opening Day lineup
1) Drew Smith 3B
2) Jacob Walsh 1B
3) Justin Cassella LF
4) Dominic Hellman DH
5) Bennett Thompson C
6) Jeffrey Heard RF
7) Ryan Cooney 2B
8) Carter Garate SS
9) Bryce Boettcher CF
