Ducks Open Rivalry Series With A Win

Friday, April 25

Eugene, Ore.

5:05 p.m.

University of Oregon

28-12

Oregon State

32-8

Oregon State

Oregon

Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com

04/25/25 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score: #13 Oregon 4, #3 Oregon State 2 Oregon Overall Stats Photo Gallery

The No. 13 Oregon baseball team beat visiting No. 3 Oregon State on Friday, 4-2.

EUGENE, Ore. — Nights like Friday prove why, despite riding a roller coaster at times this season, the sky remains the limit for Oregon baseball.

Playing their in-state rival at a sold-out PK Park, the No. 13 Ducks got a strong start from Grayson Grinsell, clean defense, clutch hits from two of the most prolific home-run hitters in school history and shutout relief pitching to beat No. 3 Oregon State, 4-2. Portland native Ryan Cooney had the go-ahead RBI, a two-run double in the fourth inning as the Ducks improved to 10-1 in weekend series openers this season.

Oregon (28-12) bounced back from a deflating loss Tuesday to Portland by out-executing the Beavers on Friday.

"It's just another game; it's also an important win that we needed," Cooney said. "But it's also another game at the same time. (We just need to) stick to our process, not change anything — not get too big with our swings, and pitching-wise just continue what we're doing."

The UO bullpen has been a factor in the Ducks' inconsistency in recent weeks. But Ian Umlandt, Cole Stokes and Seth Mattox combined for two shutout innings in relief of Grinsell on Friday, a much-needed boost of confidence.

"I've said it before, the group I coach, obviously we've got a good record — like, a really good record," UO coach Mark Wasikowski said. "But they still feel like they're way better than what we've shown on a consistent basis. You've got to put a complete product together on a consistent basis for us to be able to make that claim. And so until we can show that on a regular basis, people are going to question it — and they've got a right to. But the locker room feels like they got a lot more in it, I can tell you that much."

How It Happened: Grinsell (7-1) continued to excel as Oregon's Friday night guy, allowing only two runs in the third on his way to a seven-inning gem. He hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in a start since Feb. 28, extending that streak Friday despite allowing the two runs that gave Oregon State an early lead.

"You'll see guys get really rattled when they struggle or whatever, give up a couple of runs," Wasikowski said. "Grayson didn't. He got tougher."

His offense helped. Mason Neville extended his UO single-season record to 20 home runs with a solo shot in the bottom of the third, answering OSU's early rally.

The Ducks took the lead in the fourth, with a boost from their coaching staff. After Anson Aroz worked a one-out walk, he stole second. Burke-Lee Mabeus then walked with two out, and a double steal put both runners in scoring position. Cooney brought both in with a double into the left-field corner.

"I think if you watch the tape back and you see those stolen bases, that's all on (the coaching staff)," Cooney said. "They prepared really well, with the shifts that those guys were putting out there and how to beat him. And I think that's why it put me in a good position in that situation, specifically."

Grinsell faced the minimum over his final four innings, thanks in part to a double play in the top of the fourth, and a runner he picked off at second in the fifth. When he struck out back-to-back hitters to end the seventh, he bounded off the mound and let loose with a shout to celebrate the end of a 117-pitch effort.

At that point Oregon was clinging to a 3-2 lead. Two batters later, UO career home run leader Jacob Walsh made it 4-2 with a solo shot, homer No. 52 of his career.

"I tried to control my emotions throughout the outing, tried not to get too high and too low," Grinsell said. "But coming out in the seventh, I knew that was probably my last inning, so I kind of let it loose. And yeah, I think it got the dugout a little bit fired up and carried the momentum with 'Dub's' home run."

Umlandt, who has made four midweek starts this season, got the first two outs of the eighth before allowing two baserunners. Stokes then struck out the last batter of the inning, and Mattox — who took the loss Tuesday against Portland — pitched around a two-out double in the ninth for his second save of the year.

"I think our back end is really coming around," Mattox said. "Obviously with Stokes, and having Ian back there now not just as a midweek guy, I think it's coming together. We know who our go-to guys are in big situations."

Friday, there were a bunch of go-to guys who came through in a bunch of go-to situations. The key, the Ducks know, will be doing it again Saturday.

Notable: Third baseman Carter Garate made his 100th consecutive start for the Ducks. … Oregon has won three straight in the rivalry series, and has a 43-42 record in games played in Eugene. … The Ducks improved to 3-1 against top-10 opponents this season.

Up Next: Game two of the series is Saturday (4:05 p.m., B1G+).