Underclassmen Help Oregon Even The Series

Friday, May 15

Eugene, Ore.

6:05 p.m.

University of Oregon

37-15, 19-10

USC

42-13, 20-9

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
USC	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	5	1
Oregon	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	X	4	4	0

Photo by: Ian McFarland/UO Athletics

05/15/26 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score: #16 Oregon 4, #17 USC 3 Photo Gallery

EUGENE, Ore. — On senior night at PK Park, it was youth that was served in No. 16 Oregon's 4-3 win over No. 17 USC in Big Ten Conference action on Friday.

Freshmen Brayden Jaksa and Naulivou Lauaki hit back-to-back home runs to help the Ducks overcome an early Trojans' lead. Sophomore Will Sanford dominated on the mound after a shaky second inning. The Ducks' righty retired the final 13 batters he faced after allowing USC (42-13, 20-9 Big Ten) to score two runs on three hits and a walk in the second.

Sanford (7-2), who struck out the side to start the game in the first inning, got the final out of his outing when Jack Brooks robbed Jack Basseer of a home run in the top of the sixth inning.

With the win, the Ducks (37-15, 19-10 Big Ten) locked up a top-four seed in next week's Big Ten Conference Tournament in Omaha, Neb. The winner of tomorrow's game at PK Park will clinch the third seed while the loser will be the four seed. UCLA has clinched the No. 1 seed while Nebraska has locked down the second seed.

Seeds five through 12 will start a double-elimination portion of the tournament on Tuesday with four teams advancing into the single-elimination tournament that starts on Friday.

How It Happened: USC jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the second before Oregon turned to the long ball in the fourth to take its first lead of the series.

After Ryan Cooney reached on a throwing error and Drew Smith walked to put runners on the corners, Jaksa belted a three-run homer into the Trojans' bullpen to give UO the lead. Four pitches later it was 4-0. Naulivou Lauaki Jr. smoked his second home run of the series, this one 426-feet to dead center.

USC threatened in both the seventh and eighth innings. The Trojans loaded the bases against Collin Clarke in the seventh with a pair of hits and a walk, but Luke Morgan came out of the bullpen to get a pop up for the final out. In the eighth USC loaded the bases again and scored a run on a bases loaded ground out before Devin Bell fanned Andrew Lamb to end the frame.

Bell then got the Trojans 1-2-3 in the ninth to lock up his 11th save of the season.

Box Score Notes: Clarke made his first appearance out of the bullpen since his freshman season when he tossed 0.2 scoreless innings vs. Utah on May 5, 2024 … Smith drew a pair of walks and scored a run against USC starter Grant Govel (10-2) who had allowed just nine walks in 80 innings of work heading into the game … Sanford struck out seven in 6.0 innings while allowing two runs on three hits with just one walk … Oregon pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts … The attendance was 3,461.

Up next: The teams wrap up the three-game series on Saturday (3 p.m., Big Ten Network).

Quotes:

Head Coach Mark Wasikowski

On the overall team effort…
"I'm proud of the team, bounce back day. We felt like we left some opportunities on the board on a really extremely highly pitched Thursday night. We felt like we left some opportunities on the table last night which when you have very few opportunities that are available off of a Friday night pitching performance that USC got against us, you got to take advantage of them. I feel like we did a much better job tonight of taking advantage of it. I thought (Angel) Layas unselfish at-bat to be able to advance a runner, and then them having to pitch a certain way to be able to lead another guy to get on base with a patient at-bat to lead to a bigger swing. I thought it was a real critical thing and the game probably honored the fact that we were playing simple baseball. I mean, how about this baseball series right? Packed house and two really tight games with two really good baseball teams and then we get to square it up tomorrow."

On Will Sanford's performance on the mound…
"I don't know if it was 12 or 14 strikeouts but I know he went on a roll. It was pretty impressive, and it wasn't a lot of contact at all until the last inning, where they got a couple balls, and Jack Brooks made a tremendous play in center field to rob a home run. I thought Will was really good and coming off of the last weekend he wanted to make a statement and he did make a statement. And to see Devin Bell come in and throw the way he did tonight I thought was a huge lift as well."

On the Freshman having an outstanding day…
"The freshman got the big swings off with (Brayden) Jaksa and (Naulivou) Lauaki Jr. Both those guys hit home runs that were critical but there were some really big-time plays that the seniors did tonight. You saw Drew Smith playing electric defense and he had a critical walk in that inning that we put a crooked number up on him. I thought that was tremendous. You had Jack Brooks rob a home run in center field basically as a senior, he has another year of eligibility left if he doesn't go pro. So, to see that and Devin Bell be able to pitch the way he did on senior day was pretty spectacular. The contributions from Gabe Miranda coming off the bench and he scalds a ball to right field; I just thought it was a very well-rounded team effort. Credit to the seniors in this program they've never not been in post-season play in their careers here. That's something we take a lot of pride in."

On the message to the team going into the rubber match…
"Win the game. We are showing up to win the game, you kidding me? This is great. If you can't get up for the game tomorrow then you can't get up. This is going to be a lot of fun. You can tell that the two teams are evenly matched and it's a really competitive series, and we want to win this thing."

Brayden Jaksa

On notable freshman performance...
"All of us go out there with an approach and when you see other guys succeed it's the best thing in the world. We all put in the hours out there grinding every single day. To see Naulivou Lauaki Jr. go after me, it was one of those 'is this for real' moments."

On competing for postseason as a freshman...
"I came to Oregon to win. I came because I wanted to play winning baseball and make it to Omaha and do what we can. Ever since I committed here, this program has been on the rise. Guys like Drew Smith and Jack Brooks came here and really set the tone. Since I've been here, I've been able to see how people work and get what they need to be successful. It's fun to go out there every day and compete with these guys and push for a moment."

On emotions around senior night...
"It's a super emotional night. We really wanted to get the win for those guys. They put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into this program, and it was fun to see all of them go out there. Elijah Cook and Josh Schleichardt got out there, and Drew Smith did what he did. All those guys are hard workers and to see them succeed and be around them is so much fun."

Naulivou Lauaki Jr.

On mental focus during an at bat...
"I've been in a couple situations where I am batting after a big hit, and you definitely have to take a deep breath. Luckily tonight I was a few pitches in, so it erased Brayden Jaksa's home run from my mind."

On PK Park's environment...
"Being on the team last year and experiencing the big crowds, I visualized being in moments like that. PK Park is phenomenal and the crowds are electric. I've been in the student sections at football games, and I would say it's about the same level of intensity that they bring here. I'm very appreciative of it, it's great."

On mental preparation for tomorrow's game...
"Our coaches preach, it's us versus the game, so it's nothing too crazy. We need to keep playing our game. Preparation plays a big role, especially tonight. It starts with rest, but we keep everything the same. It doesn't matter what color jersey they're wearing, it's just the game."

Will Sanford

On bouncing back from last week's performance...
"It's about not second guessing your pitches. There's a tug and flow between innings, and it's about not holding myself back. Every pitch I felt like there was full conviction and I trust my defense behind me. I'm not worried about a result, I just throw every pitch the best I can."

On his relationship with Burke-Lee Mabeus...
"He's been catching me well all year. That dude works so hard, and even when he gets banged up, he's still getting me some calls and working his tail off behind the plate. It's his mentality and how he goes to work. There's no doubt even when he gets banged up, he's going to get back in there and keep catching me the best he can. The personality he has to be able to talk to us and every single one of our pitchers is great. He has a great relationship with all of us and he's a great catcher."

On Devin Bell's performance...
"It was awesome, like all our seniors. I love those guys. The work they put in is incredible, but it's not just that. The leadership they have is what's been helping this team a lot. With Devin Bell there is never a doubt in my mind when he comes in the game, he's going to get those last couple of outs."