Live Updates: Oregon vs. Oral Roberts at the Eugene Super Regional — Game 3

Oregon will be playing with a trip to Omaha on the line Sunday when it faces Oral Roberts in a winner-takes-all showdown at the Eugene Super Regional at PK Park.

The Ducks (40-21) nearly clinched a College World Series berth Saturday, but the Golden Eagles (50-12) orchestrated a ninth-inning rally and won on Justin Quinn’s walk-off double to force a decisive game three. The Ducks won Friday’s opener on Drew Cowley’s walk-off RBI single.

“Honestly, I think it’s just gonna make tomorrow more exciting,” Oregon senior outfielder Tanner Smith said following Saturday’s loss. “I think the feeling of us getting it done and dog pilling tomorrow to go Omaha is gonna be even better than tonight would have been.”

Oregon and Oral Roberts are slated for a 3:06 p.m. PT first pitch. The game will air on ESPN U.

Follow along for updates throughout the afternoon.

FINAL: Oral Roberts 11, Oregon 6

Ninth Inning

B9

In his last at-bat as a Duck, Tanner Smith ripped an RBI single to cut the ORU lead to 11-6.

But that was all Oregon would get in the inning.

The Ducks finished the year 41-22 and fell one game short of the College World Series.

T9

Ian Umlandt came on in relief for the Ducks to start the inning and sandwiched a walk between two outs.

Dylan McShane replaced him after the second out. After that, the wheels fell off for the Ducks. Oral Roberts scored three runs after the Ducks’ pitchers issued four free passes to take an 11-5 lead.

Eighth Inning

T8

Oregon closer Josh Mollerus came on in relief and struck out Jonah Cox to begin the inning.

Seventh Inning

B7

Gavin Grant and Rikuu Nishida drew back-to-back walks to begin the seventh inning for the Ducks. Right-hander Dalton Patten then came on in relief and struck out pinch-hitter Anson Aroz for the first out of the inning.

Drew Cowley walked, and Sabin Ceballos followed with a sac fly to cut the ORU lead to 8-5.

Tanner Smith followed with another walk to load the bases for Drew Smith. But he popped up to right to end the inning.

T7

Oral Roberts added a run on a wild pitch and then another on a throwing error to make it 7-4.

Then, Jake McMurray drove home another run to make it 8-4.

Sixth Inning

B6

Sabin Ceballos launched a towering solo homer to cut ORU’s lead to 5-4.

But it was nothing doing for the Ducks after that.

T6

Mercado retired ORU’s 1-2-3 hitters in order and has now sat down the last six batters he’s faced.

Fifth Inning

B5

Gavin Grant was thrown out at second trying to stretch a leadoff single into a double. Rikuu Nishida followed with a single of his own but was left stranded.

T5

ORU’s 7-8-9 hitters went three up, three down.

Fourth Inning

B4

Oregon’s 7-6-8 hitters went three up, three down.

T4

Jackson Pace walked a batter, then hit another to give ORU with two on and nobody out.

The Ducks then turned to right-hander Logan Mercado, who was greeted with a one-out single by Jake McMurray to tie the game at 3-3.

Justin Quinn followed with a bunt single to load the bases. Mercado then struck Josiah Cox out swinging but walked Matt Hogan with the bases loaded to give ORU a 4-3 lead.

Mac McCroskey followed with a hard-hit ball up the middle that resulted in a fielder’s choice to score the runner from third and make it 5-3.

Third Inning

B3

Sabin Ceballos ripped a two-out single but was left stranded.

T3

Jonah Cox hit a leadoff single, stole second, and then scored on Mac McCroskey’s single to cut Oregon’s lead to 3-2.

Second Inning

B2

Oregon No. 9 hitter Gavin Grant drew a two-out walk, but the Ducks could not capitalize.

T2

Pace worked around a pair of singles to produce a scoreless inning and keep Oregon’s lead at 3-1.

First Inning

B1

Drew Cowley crushed a two-out double for Oregon’s first hit of the day, and Sabin Ceballos followed by drawing a four-pitch walk.

Then, Tanner Smith smashed a three-run homer to right to give the Ducks a 3-1 lead.

Smith’s homer was the 31st of his Oregon career, making him the program’s all-time leader.

T1

Jake McMurray cracked a leadoff single, Justin Quinn followed with a walk, and Jonah Cox was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out for ORU.

Jackson Pace then forced cleanup man Matt Hogan to fly out to shallow center. The next batter, Mac McCroskey, grounded out to shortstop but Drew Cowley made a poor throw to second and the Ducks were unable to produce an inning-ending double play.

ORU scored on the play to take a 1-0 lead.

Holden Breeze then grounded out to end the inning.

Pregame

Related reading

• How will Oregon utilize its pitching staff with the season on the line at the Eugene Super Regional?
• Oral Roberts captures walk-off win over Oregon to force Game 3 at Eugene Super Regional

Oregon lineup

Oregon lineup

Rikuu Nishida RF
Bryce Boettcher CF
Drew Cowley SS
Sabin Ceballos 3B
Tanner Smith LF
Drew Smith DH
Jacob Walsh 1B
Bennett Thompson C
Gavin Grant 2B

RHP Jackson Pace

Oral Roberts lineup

Jake McMurray 1B
Justin Quinn LF
Jonah Cox CF
Matt Hogan RF
Mac McCrocskey SS
Holden Breeze 3B
Drew Stahl DH
Jacob Godman C
Blaze Brothers 2B

RHP Brooks Fowler (9-1, 3.11 ERA)