Gonzaga Is First Up No. 18 Oregon This Week

THIS WEEK
    Oregon (23-12, 6-6) cracked the top-25 polls this week, after winning its series taking 2-of-3 from then No. 1 UCLA last weekend in Los Angeles.
    It was the second consecutive Pac-10 series victory for the Ducks, after UO took 2-of-3 from then No. 22 Stanford on the road, April 9-11.
    Oregon is currently ranked in four out of five collegiate polls, receiving a No. 18 ranking from both Baseball America and Rivals.com.
    The No. 18 Ducks will look to maintain their top-25 rankings as well as continue a push for the postseason with five games this week.
    On the schedule first for the UO is a two-game stint on the road at Gonzaga on Tuesday (6:30 p.m.) and Wednesday (1 p.m.). The Ducks then will return to PK Park for a three-game series against USC; Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (5 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.). The series is the start of an eight-game homestand for UO.

RADIO BROADCASTS/MEDIA
    Over the radio airwaves, Jerry will provide the play-by-play on THE SCORE 95.3 FM in the Eugene/Springfield area for all five games this week - at Gonzaga and at home vs. USC - where Brian Prawitz will join him. The audio broadcasts will also be simulcast via the O-Zone at www.GoDucks.com for the two Gonzaga games, while video broadcasts will be available for the home series vs. USC.
    Gonzaga will also offer a video feed of Tuesday's and Wednesday's contests at www.gozags.com.
    Live stats will also be made available at www.GoDucks.com.

O-ZONE: ONLINE VIDEO & AUDIO
        Baseball fans can now watch Oregon baseball home games live on the O-Zone at www.GoDucks.com. All home games will offer live video and audio.

TICKETS
     A reminder that single-game tickets for the 2010 season remain on sale. Duck fans can purchase tickets online by clicking HERE, over the phone by calling 1-800-WEB-FOOT, or in person at the Casanova Center Ticket Office.

QUICK HITS
•     Oregon welcomes back five position starters from the 2009 squad; Curtis Raulinaitis, Danny Pulfer, KC Serna, Mitch Karraker and Jett Hart.
•     The Ducks pitching staff has 11 returners, including sophomore left-hander Tyler Anderson, who is expected to start the series opener on Friday night vs. USC.
•     Oregon also welcomes 11 newcomers to the roster; eight freshmen and three juniors.

SCHEDULE NOTES
•    Oregon opened 2010 on an eight-game road trip to southern California and Hawaii, and came back to Eugene with a 4-4 record.
•     The Ducks played 12 of their first 14 games on the road, but returned to play nine consecutive home games before opening up Pac-10 play. The Ducks were 9-5 in their first 14 games, and 8-1 during a nine-game homestand.
•    Seven opponents (ARIZ, ASU, CAL, CSF, OSU, STAN, UCLA) on Oregon's 2010 schedule are currently ranked in at least one national poll.
•    Oregon's longest home stretch of the season was nine games from Friday, March 12-Tuesday, March 23 as Seattle, Nevada and Southern Utah traveled to Eugene. The Ducks finished that stretch 8-1.
•    Believe it or not, UO's eight-game road trip to start the season is one of two on the year. Oregon will play eight-straight road games from Friday, April 9-Wednesday, April 21, traveling to Stanford, UCLA and Gonzaga.
•    Oregon will now play in the Northwest the remainder of the season playing 15 contests at PK Park while traveling to Gonzaga, Oregon State, Portland and Washington.

OREGON UPDATE
    No. 18 Oregon broke into the polls this week and is garnering national attention after some noticeable wins.
    Last week on the road at No. 1 UCLA, Oregon took 2-of-3 from the Bruins on their home field. The week before (April 9-11), Oregon took 2-of-3 on the road from then No. 22 Stanford.
    Tuesday's game against Gonzaga, will be the first time Oregon plays a non-ranked opponent in the month of April. The Ducks have played three consecutive series against top-25 competition; No. 1 Arizona State (April 1-3), No. 22 Stanford (April 9-11) and No.1 UCLA (April 16-18).
    The Ducks have a healthy 5-4 record in those games, and are 6-4 against ranked teams on the season.

ROAD TRIP
    UO's eight-game road trip began on April 9, as the Ducks defeated then No. 22 Stanford, 5-2 at Sunken Diamond. The Ducks are currently 4-2 on this road stretch, with two games remaining against Gonzaga before returning home to host USC on Friday at 7 p.m.

PROMOTIONS
7 p.m., Friday vs. USC at PK Park
It will be Elvis night at PK, and everyone who decides to pull out their inner sideburn and hip-shaking, and dresses up like the King, will receive free admission. A free trip to Las Vegas will also be given away.
Forecast: 62 degrees with sunshine
5 p.m., Saturday vs. USC at PK Park
It will be Greek Day at PK Park as all sororities and fraternities are encouraged to wear their letters and colors to Saturday night's baseball game. The fraternity or sorority with the most members in attendance will win a day at PK Park to play a slow-pitch softball game.
Forecast: 58 degrees with sunshine and partly cloudy
12 p.m., Sunday vs. USC at PK Park
It will be Little League Day at PK Park on Sunday afternoon. Children in the seventh grade or under can receive free admission just by wearing their respective baseball or softball jersey to the game. There will also be an autograph session following the game.
Forecast: 64 degrees and sunshine

STRIKEOUT WITH PIZZA HUT
    If the Oregon pitching staff accumulates 10 strikeouts in one game, fans will leave PK Park with a coupon for a free personal pan pizza courtesy of Pizza Hut.

GONZAGA PREVIEW
    For the first time in its last nine games, Oregon will play against an unranked opponent on Tuesday and Wednesday at Gonzaga.
    The Bulldogs are 13-22-1 on the season, and recently dropped it home series with Pepperdine, 2-1.
    Gonzaga is hitting. 287, led by Drew Heid's .391 average, while Andy Hunter leads the squad with 36 RBIs. The Bulldog pitching staff has a 5.76 ERA.

USC PREVIEW
    USC is at the bottom of the Pac-10 standings with a 15-20 overall record and a 2-10 mark in the Pac-10. The Trojans are batting .284 led by Ricky Oropesa's .321 average, 34 RBIs and 11 home runs.
    The pitching staff has a 4.75 ERA and Ben Mount leads the group with a 3-3 record and 3.77 ERA. USC is on a six-game losing streak after being swept by California and then No. 3 Arizona State.

UCLA RECAP
    Oregon won its second Pac-10 series, taking two-of-three on the road at No. 1 UCLA last week. On Friday, UO clung to a one-run lead 5-4, as reliever Scott McGough pitched 4 and 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball.
    The Ducks then defeated UCLA, 8-4, on Saturday with Justin LaTempa (3-2) on the mound and Curtis Raulinaitis responsible for four runs with a two-run triple and a two-run homer. The Ducks dropped the final game of the series, 5-1, on Sunday.

A TRIO OF THREE
    Left-hander Tyler Anderson has been ridiculously good in his last three starts, which included his first career complete game, holding No. 1 Arizona State to one run in a 1-0 loss on April 1. He has a 1-1 record and a 2.79 ERA, striking out 19 while holding opponents to a .197 clip in his last three appearances.
    On the year, Anderson is 5-3 on the mound with a 2.63 ERA and 55 strikeouts compared to 17 walks. He is holding opponents to a .211 clip.

IN RELIEF
    And in relief, Scott McGough has been untouchable. In the month of April, the sophomore right-hander is 1-0 with one save. He has not allowed a run in three appearances and 11 innings pitched, striking out 13 and holding opponents to a .158 clip. His best outing was tossing 4 and 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball and preserving the Ducks' one-run, 5-4, lead over UCLA last Friday.
    On the season, McGough has made 10 appearances (2 starts) on the mound, and has tossed a total of 33 and 1/3 innings. He is 4-0 with three saves and a 1.89 ERA, while holding batters to a .240 clip, and striking out 31.

STREAKING
    Senior outfielder Curtis Raulinaitis heads into this week on a six-game hitting streak after having a successful weekend at No. 1 UCLA last week.
     The Sacramento native led Oregon batting .364 with a team-leading six RBIs, as the then unranked Ducks won their series taking two-of-three from No. 1 UCLA on the road. Raulinaitis scored two runs and had two extra-base hits, including a triple and home run. He had a team-best .818 slugging percentage and a .417 on-base percentage.
    In Oregon's 5-4 victory on Friday night, Raulinaitis helped the Ducks get on the board early with a clutch two-out RBI single in the second – part of a two-run inning for Oregon. In the fifth, Raulinaitis' ground-out RBI scored the Duck's fifth run – which would prove to be the game winner.
    In the UO's 8-4 victory on Saturday, Raulinaitis led UO with a 2-for-4 day and a career-high four RBIs with a two-run homer and a two-run triple. It was Raulinaitis' second home run of the season. In the second inning, Raulinaitis lined a two-out triple down the right field line to help Oregon build its 3-0 lead. Part of a four-run inning in the sixth, Raulinaitis - again with two-outs against him - jacked his second home run of the season as the Ducks led 7-1.

FRESHMEN PLAYING
    Oregon head coach George Horton hasn't been shy about putting his true freshmen in the thick of things this season.
    Horton has two true freshmen starting regularly on defense with Jack Marder now playing first base, and J.J. Altobelli at third base. Steven Packard, who hit his first collegiate home run at Arizona on March 26, is also in the mix making starts against right-handers.
    In the series against No. 1 UCLA, four Oregon freshmen (Marder, Altobelli, Packard and Ryan Hambright) got at least one start in the series with the group totaling 13 hits, eight runs scored, five RBIs, three walks and one double.
    Marder, who hit an opposite field three-run homer to help Oregon to a 9-8 victory at Arizona on March 28, batted .333 last weekend with two RBIs and two runs scored. On the season, he is hitting .231 with 22 RBIs and 22 runs scored.
    Altobelli has been nothing but consistent at third base. The Newport Beach, Calif., native is hitting .294 overall, and .311 in Pac-10 play. In 2010, he has 21 RBIs, 20 runs scored and six doubles.
    Packard hit .571 (4-for-7) last weekend at No. 1 UCLA. The San Marcos, Calif., native scored three runs, was walked twice and also produced a RBI double. On the year, he is batting .290 and has been walked 11 times, and has improved his average to .346 in conference action.

THE STAFF
    Oregon's pitching staff continues to be one of the best in the nation as Oregon's arms are maintaining a 2.92 ERA - good for third in the nation. The Ducks starting trio of Tyler Anderson, Justin LaTempa and Alex Keudell has a combined record of 12-9, while top relievers Zack Thornton (5-0) and Scott McGough (4-0) are 9-0 combined. That quintet has also combined for 217 strikeouts, led by Keudell's 61.
    As a staff, opponents are hitting just .255 against the Ducks as not one starter has an ERA above 4.0; Anderson (2.63), Keudell (3.20), and LaTempa (3.35).
    Oregon's top reliever include Thornton (5-0, 3.63 ERA), McGough (4-0, 3 SV, 1.89 ERA), Joey Housey (0.79 ERA, 1 SV), Christian Jones (1-1, 2.25 ERA), and Madison Boer (1-1, 2.70 ERA).
    Closer Drew Gagnier has four saves on the season, pitching 13 innings in 12 appearances with a 1.38 ERA.

ANDERSON NAMED TO WATCH LIST
    Oregon Friday-night starter Tyler Anderson has been named to the College Baseball Foundation's Pitcher of the Year award watch list, it was announced on March 23.
    Anderson is one of 49 pitchers from across the country that was named to Tuesday's watch list. The Pitcher of the Year Award will be presented in Lubbock, Texas, on July 2 as part of the College Baseball Awards Show.
    This is the second year the CBF will present the Pitcher of the Year Award.
    Anderson is currently 5-3 on the season with a 2.63 ERA. The sophomore lefty endured a stretch of thee straight victories on the mound from March 5-19, in starts against Fresno State, Seattle and Nevada. At one point, the Las Vegas native had tossed 21 scoreless innings for the Ducks.
    The Pac-10 leads the country with nine pitchers on the Baseball Foundation's Pitcher of the Year award watch list.

TOP-25 RECRUITING
    Oregon inked 12 players during the early signing period, and each signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the U of O for the 2010-11 academic year. All 12 newcomers are currently in their senior year of high school.
    This is Oregon's third recruiting class since the reinstatement of the UO baseball program, and if history repeats itself, the 2010 graduating class should garner national honors like its predecessors.
    Of Oregon's 12 signees, six rank among the top-200 high school prospects for 2010, including three of the country's top-50 ranked prospects, according to PerfectGame Crosschecker.
    For two consecutive years, Oregon's recruiting classes have earned top-25 accolades. The Ducks' 2009 class, brought in for the program's first season in 28 years, was ranked No. 2 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball's annual evaluation, and was also ranked 10th in the nation by Baseball America's evaluation.
    The Ducks' second class received the No. 24 ranking in the nation from Baseball America earlier this fall.

CIVIL WAR CLASSIC
    Tickets are also currently on sale for The Civil War Classic presented by RBC Wealth Management. First pitch is set 6:30 p.m. from PGE Park in Portland on Wednesday, May 26.
    Tickets, which range in price from $5-$35, are available at www.ticketmaster.com, and all Ticketmaster locations.

PK PARK
    Oregon's newest facility opened to 2,609 fans on March 2 as UO defeated Washington, 6-2. The park has full locker rooms, clubhouses and team amenities, as well as a state-of-the-art video board and a classic inning by inning score board.
    The park has specially designed lighting structures. There is a landscaped area for food and hospitality and even a fan interaction area. There is a student seating area to enhance the intimacy for the Oregon baseball team and spectators.
    Eugene architect firm Cameron, McCarthy, Gilbert & Scheibe was the lead landscape architectural firm on the first phase of construction. Larry Gilbert is leading the project.
    “We have designed PK Park with all the features and amenities necessary to help the University of Oregon baseball program quickly establish itself as a regular on the 'Road to Omaha'. The Ducks' passionate fans will find their new ballpark to be one of the best places in the country to cheer on their favorite team,” said Greg Garlock, Designer and Principal with DLR Group.
    PK Park has a total capacity of 4,000, including 3,000 fixed seats, a tiered party plaza named “Fowl Territory”, a picnic plaza and eight upper level suites.
FieldTurf
The field is made of an all-weather base-ball specific FieldTurf, with clay mounds and bullpens. FieldTurf is the leading provider of collegiate baseball synthetic turf. The company has been installing similar products at college ballparks around the country.
History
2008 – On August 15, 2008 The University of Oregon announced that work has begun on the construction of a new baseball park. PK Park is named after Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny for his leadership, vision, support, and commitment to the University of Oregon. It was projected to cost $15-$18 million.
2009 – Baseball returns to the University of Oregon. In the team's first game at the park on Feb. 27, the Ducks beat Fresno State, the defending national champions in front of a sellout crowd.