The Oregon baseball team had won nine straight games against Hawaii entering Sunday’s game and freshman Matt Krook was on the hill for the Ducks. The 35th overall MLB draft pick pitched 7.0 innings on Sunday, giving up two runs (zero earned) on five hits with eight strikeouts. Krook struggled at times, though, throwing seven wild-pitches past freshman catcher Jack Kruger. The Ducks also needed an extra inning to defeat Hawaii, winning 6-5.

The Rainbow Warriors would open up the scoring in the first inning when Marcus Doi reached first base on an error by third baseman Scott Heineman. Kaeo Aliviado would then strikeout but the ball got away from Kruger and Aliviado would reach first safely, while Doi would move to third base. Trevor Podratz would later score Doi on a groundout to Mark Karaviotis.

The Ducks would get that run back in the third when Karaviotis reached fist base after getting hit by the pitch. After getting moved over to second by a Heineman ground ball, Karaviotis would end up at third on an Aaron Payne bunt single. Then as Payne was caught trying to steal second base with one out, Karaviotis stole home on the play tying the game at one.

Later in the game tied at two, Oregon would take their first lead of the game in the eighth inning. After working a walk from Hawaii pitcher Jordan DePonte, Payne would move over to second base on a wild pitch. With one out, Tyler Baumgartner hit the ball hard to the first baseman Doi, who couldn’t handle the ball. Baumgartner then moved up to second base by another error from second basemen Stephen Ventimilia. Payne would scored on the double-error play.

The Rainbow Warriors wouldn’t let the Ducks keep the lead for long as they would combine for three runs in the bottom of the eighth. With sophomore Garrett Cleavinger now on the mound for the Ducks, Hawaii would have the bases loaded with two outs for Alan Baldwin. Baldwin, who was pinch-hitting for Ventimilia, singled to left field scoring a pair. Jake Reed would then replace Cleavinger on the mound and would soon give up a single to Doi scoring Hawaii’s third run of the inning.

In the ninth inning the Ducks were down by two. One-out senior Connor Hofmann would pinch-hit for Jack Kruger. Hofmann singled to left starting the Oregon rally. Freshman A.J. Balta was then called upon off the bench to pinch-hit for Austin Grebeck. Balta would connect for a double to left-center scoring Hofmann. The fourth pinch-hitter of the inning, J.B. Bryant, would single up the middle, scoring Balta to tie the game at five. This would unhook Cleavinger to the loss, which would have been the first of his career.

Reed would stay on the mound in the ninth and sent the game into extra innings after a 1-2-3 inning.

In the 10th, the Ducks would load the bases with no outs. With Payne as the go-ahead run on third, Kyle Garlick fouled out to the catcher on a 0-1 pitch. Steven Packard then hit a ground ball to the first baseman Doi, who threw out Payne at home with the force out. Now with two outs and the bases still loaded, Hofmann hit a ball to the shortstop Austin Wobrock, but Wobrock would commit another Hawaii throwing error, letting Baumgartner cross the plate on what would be the winning run.

Reed continued to pitch in the 10th for the Ducks and pitch a clean 10th inning for the Oregon win.

The Ducks would score six runs largely due to the five Hawaii errors. Reed (1-0) picked up his first win of the season after pitching 2.1 innings to end the game. DePonte (0-1) was stuck with the loss.

The final game of the series will be Monday at 3:05 p.m. Jeff Gold will start for the Ducks.

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Last Monday, Oregon baseball’s Cole Irvin was ruled out for the 2014 season due to Tommy John surgery. The sophomore stater was named a 2014 Louisville Slugger and NCBWA Third-Team Preseason All-American prior to the surgery.

“It’s hard to replace the twelve wins and a potential All-American, but every coach and every program goes through some of those kind of things,” head coach George Horton told reporters this afternoon. “We’re moving on. We have no choice.”

Now, the Ducks will turn to junior Jordan Spencer and freshman Matt Krook to fill the weekend rotation spots.

“We’re testing the waters with Jordan Spencer being an everyday weekend starter,” Horton said.

In the Ducks’ four-game opening series this upcoming weekend versus Hawaii, Spencer is scheduled to get the ball in game two and Krook in game three.

Spencer made six weekday starts in the 2012 season and finished with a 4.26 ERA. Spencer, though, did throw the first no-hitter in Oregon history since the program was reinstated in 2009 and pitched two batters over the minimum in a nine-inning shutout against Portland.

“In spots, he (Spencer) has pitched awfully well,” Horton said.

Krook has impressed teammates like starting third baseman Scott Heineman, who said he’s faced the freshman about eight times. Heineman described Krook’s pitching as “filthy” and “disgusting.”

“His stuff is big league ready already,” Heineman said. “His slider’s been compared to the Jimmie Sherfy slider from the left side. And when a lefty’s bringing 94-95 with that kind of slider, it’s tantalizing.”

Krook, the 35th overall draft pick in the 2013 MLB draft, wants to pick up the workload that may be required from the injury to Irvin.

“I’ll have to try and do my best to pick up where he (Irvin) left off and do whatever I can to get innings,” Krook said.

Already the ace of the rotation, Tommy Thorpe feels that the loss of Irvin may require him to do more this season.

“Mentally I might put it upon myself to do even better,” Thorpe said. “But at the end of the day it is just how I perform and how the team performs.”

Thorpe said he trusts that Spencer or Jeff Gold will get the job done in the final weekend starting slot.

“I don’t expect anything different for this year after Cole going down,” Thorpe said. “I have a lot of confidence in Jordan and Goldy.”

The redshirt senior Gold pitched on the weekends in 2012 after an injury to Brandon Tessar and has a career ERA of 3.16.  Even as the only right-hander in the rotation, he will likely do most of his starting pitching on the weekdays, which is perfectly fine to him.

“I’m just holding down the midweek (game) for us,” Gold said. “Whatever I can do to help the team win is all what I want to do.”

Tommy Thorpe will get the ball in the Ducks season opener on Friday in Honolulu against Hawaii at 8:35 p.m. PT.

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No. 51 Oregon is hosting the Fresno State Bulldogs for two matches this weekend starting Friday night and again on Sunday. After winning the doubles point Oregon stayed strong throughout singles to a 7-0 finish. Robin Cambier (6-1, 6-2), Jason Amos (6-1, 6-1), and Daniel Sardu (6-1, 6-0) all won their singles matches convincingly. Cambier was playing in the No. 1 singles on Friday night; the first time he has played in that slot this season.

Joey Swaysland was locked in a battle with Fresno State’s Erick Komati that had to be decided in a best-of-10 super tie-breaker. Swaysland would win a lead early and stay ahead to win the set and the match.

“It was a good match. I lost the first set but I thought I played well in the second (set). I lifted my level a little bit and was able to put a lot more pressure on him,” Swaysland said. “In the super-tie breaker I was able to have that momentum and keep playing aggressive.”

The Ducks maintained the momentum they picked up in Durham, N.C. when they beat then ranked No. 50 San Diego St. and played well against No. 17 Duke. But Swaysland said that with or without momentum their focus is day-to-day.

“We just try to take one match at a time,” Swaysland said. ”Never look to far forward or too far back.”.

Freshman Jason Amos is now 5-1 in the No. 6 singles and 4-1 in No. 3 doubles. with partner Daniel Sardu.

“Jason has been playing really consistent,” Oregon head coach Nils Schyllander said. “He has been serving really well the whole season, which has really helped him… You get confident from winning so I think he really believes in himself right now.”

Senior Robin Cambier inched closer to Oregon’s all-time singles wins record (84, Sven Swinnen) after his 6-1, 6-2 victory. Cambier now has 81 career wins and can break the record at home against UNLV on Feb. 23.

The Ducks will host the Bulldogs again Sunday Feb. 2 at 11 a.m. at the Student Tennis Center.

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One of the most popular sports worldwide is played on Oregon’s campus but is overlooked by many. With sports such as football, basketball and baseball, many people here in the U.S. don’t have a similar passion for tennis as many other countries do.

“Tennis is one of the absolute premier sports worldwide, and in many countries it is the number one or two sport. A lot of top athletes will play tennis,” men’s tennis head coach Nils Schyllander said.

But the men’s tennis team at Oregon understands that to have a successful tennis program they must get the best players available no matter which country they are from.

“If you look around (internationally), you see how big of an international sport tennis really is. We recruit the best possible student athletes we can find, whether he is from the U.S. or wherever he is from,” associate head coach Jonas Piibor said.

Both Piibor and Schyllander are natives of Sweden and played collegiate tennis in the U.S. with great success. Piibor played at Indiana State and was ranked as high as 28th in the nation in singles and 50th in doubles, and Schyllander was Northern Arizona University’s Men’s Athlete of the Year in 1995. Being from overseas, Piibor said they can relate to internationally-recruited athletes personally.

“Maybe we have something we can offer as far as relating to being far away from home and family and stuff like that,” Piibor said. “I think we can relate from personal experience a little bit better than a U.S.-born coach.”

The Ducks currently have four players from Europe, one from Australia, one from Mexico and the remaining four are from the U.S. But keeping up with international recruits isn’t too difficult for the Oregon coaching staff.

“With the Internet you follow what is going on in every tournament all across the world. You see who’s playing and who’s playing where. It’s instant access these days,” Schyllander said.

For international athletes, U.S. universities offer a unique opportunity to study and compete at a high level. For both Robin Cambier, a Belgium native, and Daan Maasland from Geldrop, Netherlands, going to the U.S. was the only option.

“It was the only way to continue my studies and play tennis at the same time,” senior Cambier said. “I knew one year before graduating (high school) that I wanted to go to the U.S. to study.”

Maasland echoed similar thoughts.

“If I wouldn’t have played tennis at this level I probably would have stayed in Holland, but it’s not possible to combine it (tennis and school) together there,” sophomore Maasland said.

With six of the 10 players coming from outside the U.S., the locker room for the Ducks is diverse, which “works well,” Maasland said.

For Cambier and other international students, coming to the U.S. is like coming to a “new world.” Being able to play tennis and study is something these international players can only do here — an opportunity that Cambier doesn’t regret.

“It’s the best choice I have ever made,” Cambier said.

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This upcoming season, the Oregon baseball team could have a completely left-handed pitching rotation.

The core of the rotation is still intact with lefties Tommy Thorpe (2013: 2.16 ERA, 87K, 104.1 IP) and Cole Irvin (12-3, 2.48 ERA, 60 K, 116 IP), and the Ducks could see the No. 35 overall draft pick in last year’s draft step into a starting job immediately. Freshman Matt Krook, a left-handed pitcher out of San Mateo, Calif., decided to attend the University of Oregon instead of signing a deal with the Miami Marlins.

“(Krook) came in with a lot of expectations and I think he has really lived up to it thus far,” junior pitcher Jake Reed said.

The Ducks’ possible left-handed rotation this season is linked directly to junior Jake Reed switching roles from starting pitcher to the bullpen. Though nothing is set in stone just yet, Reed is currently the leading candidate to replace All-American closer Jimmie Sherfy, who was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks last June.

“We think with his (Reed’s) personality and other things he can do that he might fill the shoes of Jimmie Sherfy in a very big way,” head coach George Horton said.

After a successful freshman season, Reed took a slight step back last year as a starter, posting a record of 6-6 with an ERA of 3.50. Though the switch to the bullpen was not said to be because of Reed’s struggles last season, Reed did say that last year “was frustrating at times.”

With Reed heading to the bullpen and Krook possibly filling up the last spot in the three-man starting rotation, Horton said he wouldn’t mind a rotation of all lefties. But when asked if having a starting rotation with all left-handed pitchers could help the opposing team by seeing the ball come from the same side each game, Horton said he has no problem with it.

“I don’t know if I have ever had a staff with too many left-handed pitchers,” Horton said.

Horton added that having a rotation made up of left-handers would keep the opposing team’s running game under control. Last season, both Thorpe and Irvin picked off five runners each and the Ducks’ catchers, Josh Graham and Shaun Chase, threw out 15 of the 46 base stealers.

Oregon’s main catcher has yet to be determined. Horton said freshman catcher Jack Kruger has “impressed us quite a bit,” but added that it will be “very competitive” on who will get playing time or the most playing time. This year might be similar to last year with different players sharing time behind the plate.

The sixth-ranked Ducks will play their first series of the year against Hawaii in Honolulu starting Feb. 14.

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After a season with the sudden loss of star player Alex Rovello, the Ducks will have a fresh new season to play on the recently dedicated Alex Rovello Court.

“There were so many magical moments that were created by Alex right here on this very court,” head coach Nils Schyllander told GoDucks.com in November. “He helped this program make huge strides on this court, and he did it with class and integrity. This court is so special all because an incredible person gave us so many special moments. Those moments will live on forever. He will never be forgotten.”

The Oregon men’s tennis team finished 2013 with a 16-8 record. Though the record itself is a success, the season demonstrates a story of struggle, on the road and in the conference.

The Ducks will have tough competition early this season when on Jan. 25 they will be in Durham, N.C. to play No. 7 Duke and either No. 43 North Carolina or No. 49 San Diego State the following day.

Oregon opens the year ranked No. 52 in the ITA, just one rank higher than their final ranking last season.

Due to their 2-6 record in conference play, the Ducks will have the luxury to play five of their eight conference game,s and the two highest ranked Pac-12 teams, at home. Last year the Ducks fell 0-7 in both matches against USC and UCLA. On Mar. 28 and 29 the UO men’s tennis team will host No. 4 USC and No. 2 UCLA.

The Pac-12 could be considered one of the most difficult conferences in the nation, as there are two Pac-12 schools ranked in the top four. Currently five teams are ranked in the top 50 and three in the top 25. Oregon will need to outplay their conference opponents to be considered an elite Pac-12 team.

The Ducks will be led by their only senior, Robin Cambier. The Belgium native led the team this fall season with nine wins. Two of his nine wins this fall occurred at the USTA/ITA Northwest Regionals in Moraga, Calif. Cambier also made school history last year, recording 22 overall wins which ranks fourth all-time in Oregon history.

Cambier’s doubles partner and fellow Belgium native, Kevin Farin, is playing in his first season with Oregon. Farin is already making a name for himself before the regular season has begun. Farin and Cambier posted a team best 8-1 doubles record this fall. Though Farin succeeds as a doubles partner, Farin also has successes playing alone. The 6-foot-1 sophomore recorded 7-3 in singles this fall and reached the semifinals of the Easley Memorial, besting two top 76 opponents in the process.

Oregon will open their regular season on Jan. 17 against Portland State at 10 a.m. in Eugene.

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After a season with the sudden loss of star player Alex Rovello, the Ducks will have a fresh new season to play on the recently dedicated Alex Rovello Court.

“There were so many magical moments that were created by Alex right here on this very court,” head coach Nils Schyllander told GoDucks.com in November. “He helped this program make huge strides on this court, and he did it with class and integrity. This court is so special all because an incredible person gave us so many special moments. Those moments will live on forever. He will never be forgotten.”

The Oregon men’s tennis team finished 2013 with a 16-8 record. Though the record itself is a success, the season demonstrates a story of struggle, on the road and in the conference.

The Ducks will have tough competition early this season when on Jan. 25 they will be in Durham, N.C. to play No. 7 Duke and either No. 43 North Carolina or No. 49 San Diego State the following day.

Oregon opens the year ranked No. 52 in the ITA, just one rank higher than their final ranking last season.

Due to their 2-6 record in conference play, the Ducks will have the luxury to play five of their eight conference game,s and the two highest ranked Pac-12 teams, at home. Last year the Ducks fell 0-7 in both matches against USC and UCLA. On Mar. 28 and 29 the UO men’s tennis team will host No. 4 USC and No. 2 UCLA.

The Pac-12 could be considered one of the most difficult conferences in the nation, as there are two Pac-12 schools ranked in the top four. Currently five teams are ranked in the top 50 and three in the top 25. Oregon will need to outplay their conference opponents to be considered an elite Pac-12 team.

The Ducks will be led by their only senior, Robin Cambier. The Belgium native led the team this fall season with nine wins. Two of his nine wins this fall occurred at the USTA/ITA Northwest Regionals in Moraga, Calif. Cambier also made school history last year, recording 22 overall wins which ranks fourth all-time in Oregon history.

Cambier’s doubles partner and fellow Belgium native, Kevin Farin, is playing in his first season with Oregon. Farin is already making a name for himself before the regular season has begun. Farin and Cambier posted a team best 8-1 doubles record this fall. Though Farin succeeds as a doubles partner, Farin also has successes playing alone. The 6-foot-1 sophomore recorded 7-3 in singles this fall and reached the semifinals of the Easley Memorial, besting two top 76 opponents in the process.

Oregon will open their regular season on Jan. 17 against Portland State at 10 a.m. in Eugene.

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Surfing, in theory, is a juxtaposition. A dangerous sport that can give a rider total relaxation. Riding along waves powerful enough to engulf a human body under the water and cause serious injury is how the rider comes to feel complete bliss.

“Surfing is just peaceful. Getting on a wave is a great feeling,” surf club coordinator Stephen Baesemann said. “Getting out on the water you’re past from society. The waves come to you, there’s not an active search. It’s extremely relaxing.”

Club surfing is unique for the reason that the participants get to choose whether they compete. Though there are some club surfers who do choose to compete, most do not. There is no practice schedule or required attendance, it is what the rider chooses.

“Surf club is a community of surfers,” fellow coordinator Amber Provost said. “There’s not much I can provide for them (as a coordinator). There are rules that don’t allow me to give them gas money so it is more of a mean to find other surfers.”

Though Oregon riders don’t have the same opportunity to participate at an Oregon facility that a more common university club sport would, like baseball or lacrosse, they have an even more expansive playing ground: the Pacific Ocean.

“The natural world is our gym,” Provost said.

Being a part of the club surfing team doesn’t only give you that ability to be a competitive rider, but it also supports the lifestyle of being a surfer.

“It depends on who you ask. I wouldn’t say I know very many that would ever say it’s a sport. I definitely think it’s a lifestyle before it is ever a sport. But it can definitely be only a sport,” Provost said.

Both Provost and Baesemann describe the surfing lifestyle as “simple.”

“It’s the purity of being simply on a board. It’s all simple. You just get to be out and feel the waves,” Provost said.

Surfing is a pure sport in nature. Human vs. the ocean. In reality, surfing is a physical battle against constantly changing conditions.

“The ocean is a powerful beast. It’s going to toss you around. If you fall on a wave it’s going to take you on a run. If you try and fight it you’re going to be worse off,” Baesemann said.

In spite of how powerful the “beast” can be, the surf club always welcomes inexperienced riders. Baesemann determines that it’s “about 50-50″ in new members having surfing experience or not.

“The (surf) club helps people discover the sport and learn,” Baesemann said.

Whether a rider chooses to join the surf club to compete or not, to try something new or expand on his or her ability or perhaps just to be a part of a really relaxed community, it really doesn’t matter. The surf club welcomes anyone, the goal is just to have a good ride.

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Every week, the Emerald sports staff will collect and post their favorite tweets from Oregon athletes, coaches, media, etc. Below are the favorites from sports reporter Andrew Bantly from Dec. 20-22.

Oregon soccer defender Achijah Berry:

At least 5 babies on this plane. When one wasn't crying another was. Couldn't ask for a better flight

— Achijah Berry (@achijahsays) December 21, 2013

Oregon offensive lineman Andre Yruretagoyena:

All of these pictures of my teammates sleeping is gonna bite in the ars one day… I just know it.

— Andre Yruretagoyena (@BigAndreAZDK) December 21, 2013

Oregon baseball starting pitcher Jake Reed:

Oh nooooo i spy an under armour turtle neck under a nike jersey on a buffalo player….. #zerofeel #nofeel #thatswhyyourlosingbyalot

— JAKE REED (@JakeyReed5) December 22, 2013

Oregon tight end Pharaoh Brown:

This girl is in the middle of the airport doing yoga lol

— Pharaoh Brown (@Callme_P_RO) December 22, 2013

Oregon wide receiver Josh Huff:

Bittersweet to have my last practice in Oregon.

— Huff 2Live (@Huff_Era_1) December 21, 2013

Oregon men’s basketball guard Dominic Artis:

Great team win today!! #undefeatedducks

— Dominic Artis (@theHumbleDuck) December 22, 2013

Oregon middle blocker Ariana Williams:

I must eat all the junk food I can and drink all the alcohol I can before I go Paleo January first..

— Ariana (@ArianaChyanne) December 22, 2013

Oregon softball pitcher Cheridan Hawkins:

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catchers mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.

— cheridan hawkins (@cheridanhawkins) December 22, 2013

Oregon wide receiver Bralon Addison:

I know my mama gone be excited when I walk in this house

— Bralon Addison (@BralonAddison11) December 22, 2013

Oregon outside hitter Liz Brenner:

Being at the national championship and not playing is TORTURE #NeverAgain #CantWaitForNextYear #Hungry #GoDucks

— Elizabeth Brenner (@ElizBrenner) December 22, 2013

Oregon offensive lineman Karrington Armstrong:

Singing country bright and early in the morning with my brother!!! YUP IM HOME

— Karrington Armstrong (@KarringtonA) December 22, 2013

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Oregon wide receiver Josh Huff and defensive tackle Taylor Hart both have accepted their invitations to the 2014  Reese’s Senior Bowl. Both Huff and Hart were named in part of a large announcement on Monday from the bowl’s Twitter account.

For Huff, Hart and the other participants, the Senior Bowl will give players an extra chance to show NFL scouts and coaches their skills and abilities for the upcoming NFL Draft. Both sides in the bowl game, north and south, will be coached by NFL coaching staffs.

The last 16 Ducks who have participated in the Senior Bowl went on to play in the NFL. Running back Kenjon Barner and offensive lineman Kyle Long represented Oregon in last year’s Senior Bowl.

These are the other Pac-12 player who accepted bids to play in this year’s game:

Marion Grice — running back, Arizona State

Will Sutton — defensive tackle, Arizona State

Ryan Hewitt — fullback, Stanford

Keith McGill — cornerback, Utah

Deone Bucannon — safety, Washington State

The  Senior Bowl will be played on Jan. 25, 2014 in Mobile, Ala., and will be televised on the NFL Network at 1 p.m.

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