Oregon softball looks to be well on its way back to the Women’s College World Series with just two Pac-12 series left in the season. The Ducks are atop the conference with the Sun Devils right on their heels and the two are set to meet in the final weekend of the season.
But before the Ducks can focus on the series that looks like it will decide the Pac-12 crown, they have an in-state foe to worry about — the Beavers visit Howe Field this weekend. Oregon State is a top-50 RPI team, but it’s below .500 in Pac-12 play and looking to upset as the Ducks hope to make a push to host a regional.
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After a strong showing at the Penn Relays last weekend, Oregon track returns to Hayward Field this weekend, this time under the lights for the Oregon Twilight. The sprint-heavy meet will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday with a featured events window beginning at 5:25 p.m. Meanwhile, the decathletes and heptathletes on the squad will be in Los Angeles.
The Duck men have moved up to fifth in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association rankings, with the women close behind at seventh. The Ducks will close out the season at the Pac-12 championships in Los Angeles before heading to the Western Regional prelims in Austin. Oregon will be hosting the NCAA championships June 5-8.
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Oregon baseball’s George Horton and company hit the road again this week with five games in Washington: two midweek games against Seattle and a weekend set against a Washington State team the latter of which has historically given the Ducks fits. Heading into the week, the Ducks were winners of five straight, including a sweep over the Cardinal and a pair of walk-off victories.
Oregon and Oregon State are on a crash-course to be ranked No. 1-2 in the Pac-12 when the Beavers come to PK Park on May 17-19. Both also look like likely candidates to host at least one round of postseason baseball.
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The spring exhibition season continues for the Ducks women’s soccer and volleyball teams. Jim Moore and the defending national runners-up host Portland State at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and new head coach Kat Mertz and the soccer team face the Pilots in Portland an hour later.
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Papé Field will also play host to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation women’s lacrosse tournament, though the Ducks themselves just missed out on postseason play. Top-seeded Denver and No. 4 USC begin the tournament Thursday afternoon, with No. 2 California and No. 3 Stanford meeting in the second semifinal later in the evening.