Oregon’s baseball squad, ranked No. 16, posted a 4‑3 victory over No. 17 USC on Friday night in Eugene, evening the series at one win apiece and cementing a top‑four seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
The Ducks managed just four hits, but timely power surged in the fourth inning when Brayden Jaksa and Naulivou Lauaki Jr. launched back‑to‑back home runs, providing the early cushion that would prove decisive.
A pivotal final showdown
The upcoming finale will determine whether Oregon secures the three‑seed or the four‑seed in the tournament, a positioning that could influence the bracket path and momentum heading into postseason play.
Head coach Mark Wasikowski will miss the final contest due to his daughter’s graduation, prompting assistant Jack Marder to step in as acting head coach for the decisive game.
Relief efforts were anchored by Collin Clarke and Luke Morgan, who combined for a scoreless seventh, while Jonah Barkoff surrendered USC’s lone additional run in the eighth before Devin Bell closed out the game with his 11th save of the season. USC reliever Gavin Lauridsen surrendered only a single baserunner over three and one‑third innings, preserving the Trojans' slim hope.
Utility player Jack Basseer and infielder Augie Lopez contributed key defensive stops, while veteran Grant Govel and catcher Burke-Lee Mabeus provided steady presence behind the plate.