Mark Wasikowski: Oregon is going to do everything we can do in Game 3 to get to Omaha

The Eugene Super Regional between Oregon and Oral Roberts has been the highlight of Super Regional weekend so far. Each game has ended with a walk-off and now the two teams will play a winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday.

Ducks head coach Mark Wasikowski said his group is going to do everything in its power to make it to the College World Series.

“Really proud of the team that I coach,” Wasikowski said after Saturday’s 8-7 loss. “Can’t wait to suit up with them tomorrow. I know they’re hungry for it as well. They’re gonna do everything that they possibly can to be able to get this team to Omaha and so will we as coaches. Just really blessed to be able to be around these guys every single day. They’re awesome. I love them. So does my coaching staff. We’re going to do everything we possibly can to win this thing here at home for the people of Eugene tomorrow.”

The Ducks have made only one College World Series appearance in the program’s history back in 1954 when the team lost both of its games in Omaha.

A return to the College World Series would be a major landmark for the program, which did not exist as a varsity program for 27 seasons from 1982-2008.

Since returning to the Division I stage in 2009, the Ducks have had their chances to make it back to the sport’s biggest stage. But they gave never been able to do so.

The closest it has come came in 2012 when Oregon hosted both a Regional and Super Regional. But the then-No. 5 national seed Ducks were upset by Kent State in the Super Regional. In Game 3 of that series, Oregon lost 3-2. All three of the games in that series between the Ducks and the Golden Flashes was decided by one run.

Oregon outfielder Tanner Smith said that the message heading into Game 3 for this year’s Ducks team is a simple one.

“It’s pretty simple. I think,” Tanner Smith said. “Like some of our coaches said, if we could go back to September 10 or 11th — our first day — and if you had one game to play for at all to go to Omaha, would you take it? I think that hit the team square in the eyes. I think we’re going to come out to together as a group tomorrow and play with our hearts out.”