Oregon Ducks Fall to Utah Valley in Controversial Regional Opener
EUGENE, OR – In a dramatic opening round of the Eugene Regional on Friday night, the Oregon Ducks lost a nail-biter to the Utah Valley Wolverines, 6-5, at PK Park in a game that stirred up substantial debate over a controversial call.
Oregon, a Big Ten Conference powerhouse and the No. 12 ranked team, was trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the eighth with runners on first and third, when junior Anson Aroz attempted to score after a fly ball to left field. Initially ruled safe by home plate umpire AJ Mendel, Aroz’s fate dramatically changed after a lengthy review, resulting in him being called out for “malicious contact” and subsequently ejected.
Coach Mark Wasikowski expressed frustration over the incident, stating, “Playing hard was not rewarded tonight.” According to NCAA rules on obstruction, a defensive player cannot block a base without clear possession of the ball, and if violated, the play results in an automatic dead ball with the runner awarded one base.
On the mound, junior Jason Reitz suffered his second loss of the season, giving up six runs, although he achieved a remarkable 14 strikeouts over six innings. Reflecting on the match, he emphasized the importance of bouncing back.
Oregon’s performance wasn’t without highlights; junior center fielder Mason Neville went 2-for-5, bolstering his status as a projected MLB Draft prospect ranked No. 32 by MLB.com.
The Ducks will face Cal Poly Mustangs from the Big West Conference at 12 p.m. PT on Saturday, with Wasikowski confident in his team’s resilience: “They’ve played their best baseball with their backs against the wall.”
In other news, the Oregon softball team secured a victory over Ole Miss in the Women’s College World Series, showcasing the depth of the athletic department’s talent on a busy night for Oregon sports.
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