Tanner Smith reveals his mindset entering deciding Game 3 in Eugene Super Regional

Few players enjoy the stress of their season relying on the outcome of one game. However, Oregon outfielder Tanner Smith is changing his mindset toward the situation.

After a historic comeback to win Game 1 of the Eugene Super Regional, Oregon dropped Game 2 to Oral Roberts in heartbreaking 8-7 fashion. Instead of letting the loss carry over into Game 3, Smith found a new perspective.

“If we could go back to September 10 or 11, our first day, and [were asked], ‘If you had one game to play for it all to go to Omaha, would you take it?'” Smith said during the postgame press conference. “That hit the team square in the eyes and I think we’re going to come out as a team tomorrow, and play with our hearts out.”

Smith has already been doing just that in the super regional series. The 5-foot-9 senior is batting .556 through two games against Oral Roberts, nearly doubling his .324 batting average this season. Smith is also yet to commit an error this series.

Smith’s spectacular play brought Oregon to the edge of the promised land on Saturday, but the Golden Eagles refused to let them enter. Ahead 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Oregon gave up two runs to Oral Roberts and, effectively, lost the game.

Smith believes the taste of victory being pulled away from the Ducks will only make them hungrier in Game 3.

“Honestly, I think it’s just going to make tomorrow more exciting. I think the feeling of us getting it done and dog piling tomorrow to go to Omaha is going to be even better than tonight would’ve been,” Smith said following the loss on Saturday.

With every game, Smith makes history. The California native holds Oregon baseball’s records for games started, career hits and career RBIs. Smith will aim to extend his career as Oregon takes on Oral Roberts at 3 p.m. PT on Sunday. Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski has full faith in Smith and his fellow Ducks.

“These guys are as a tough of a group as I’ve ever seen,” Wasikowski said on Saturday. “So, what characteristics would I look for tomorrow when they came out? The same characteristics that I’ve seen every day since I’ve been with them all year.”