Ducks Look To Rebound As They Host ASU

As Jake Bennett and Kyle Kasser left the Oregon dugout and headed to the clubhouse Sunday afternoon, following the Ducks' fifth straight loss, to Stanford, the team's veteran leaders walked together and spoke in hushed tones about the message they were about to deliver in the postgame debrief session.

Bennett wanted to make sure they were on the same page before addressing their teammates. He found Kasser's message to be in line with his own, soon to be verbalized in the clubhouse moments later.

"Right now is the time you need to pull together," Bennett recalled on Wednesday. "This is a part of the season where we can crumble, or we can pull together and fight. It was all positive."

The Ducks (23-13, 6-9 Pac-12) had hoped to build momentum with a potential upset of No. 1 Oregon State in a midweek nonconference game Tuesday. Once that matchup was rained out, they turned their attention to a three-game series with Arizona State, beginning at PK Park on Friday at 6 p.m.

Considered a likely postseason qualifier a week ago, the Ducks suddenly find themselves on the outside looking in, at least according to an NCAA Tournament field projection by d1baseball.com. The series with the Sun Devils (18-20, 5-10) is a chance for Oregon to right the ship, and regain momentum after being swept by the Cardinal.

"I think their mindset's OK," UO coach George Horton said. "I hope they take it to heart, and it influences them to work even harder."

Confidence and enthusiasm don't seem to be problems. As Horton wrapped up an interview with local media prior to practice Wednesday, players went through a base-running and infield drill, and could be overheard whooping it up throughout.

The Ducks are starting three freshmen along with Kasser in the infield, and at least one more in the outfield most games. That youthful enthusiasm could be a benefit as Oregon navigates the rough waters of Pac-12 play.

"Our team's hit a rough patch," said yet another key freshman, closer Kenyon Yovan. "We're about to turn it around. The things this team can do are unbelievable."

A key for Oregon this weekend will be a return to stability by the starting pitchers. Junior left-hander David Peterson saw a seven-outing streak of quality starts end against the Cardinal, as he pitched through an illness that dogged him the week leading up to the series. Saturday starter Matt Mercer has been battling command his last four outings, and the Sunday slot remains unsettled.

This week, lefty Cole Stringer will be back in the No. 3 role, for Sunday's noon series finale against Arizona State. By that time, the Ducks hope to have reasserted themselves as a candidate for a postseason berth, and as a darkhorse for a Pac-12 race that still has a month left to play out.

"We've used the term 'fighting for our lives,'" Horton said. "… Strange things can happen, to anybody."