A Power Surge in the Pacific Northwest
The Oregon Ducks moved one step closer to a conference title after a commanding 9‑4 victory over the Washington Huskies in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday night.
The Ducks unleashed a season‑high five home runs, a surge that turned a modest lead into a comfortable margin and thrilled a crowd hungry for postseason drama.
Cal Scolari anchored the rotation, delivering five innings of crisp pitching that yielded ten strikeouts and kept Washington’s bats at bay early on.
Relief ace Toby Twist then shut the door, blanking the Huskies through three scoreless frames and preserving the lead as the game progressed.
Washington managed a late rally, stringing together a grand slam in the ninth inning that trimmed the deficit to five, but the Ducks’ bullpen held firm.
Offensive fireworks were spread across the lineup, with Drew Smith launching his 15th homer of the season, Brayden Jaksa adding his ninth, and Gabe Miranda contributing his fifth, while Naulivou Lauaki Jr. capped the night with his 11th.
The win sets up a much‑anticipated semifinal showdown against Nebraska, scheduled for 4 p.m. PT on the Big Ten Network, where the Ducks will look to extend their momentum.