Oregon’s spring football game is a chance for fans to see the Ducks play during the offseason, but it’s also a rare opportunity for some of Oregon’s players – the backups.

The Ducks, of course, have utilized their backups multiple times in recent seasons due to blowout wins, but many of their appearances don’t come until the fourth quarter. In the spring game, backups have a chance to star.

“The picked player of the game is always the third team tailback because that guy’s going to get a ton of reps,” head coach Mark Helfrich said after Wednesday’s practice.

Helfrich was asked about one backup running back Kenny Bassett, who’s played arguably the deepest position for Oregon during his three seasons.

“I think him and Ayele (Forde) would play a lot of minutes for a lot of teams,” Helfrich said.

While backups like Bassett will unlikely earn starting positions, they still have plenty of chances to impress their coaches. Injuries and off-field incidents always linger, so if second, third and fourth string players perform well during the spring game, they might be the first players called upon if the starters go down in the fall.

“Now, the lights are on. It’s your stage,” defensive coordinator Don Pellum said. “In the spring game, who’s going to get out there, do their responsibilities, but make plays?”

Playing time isn’t the only thing on the line for backups. Many of them aren’t on scholarship, so playing well in the spring could result in this momentous prize. Earning a scholarship also means they’re much more likely to earn playing time come fall.

“They’re excited for this time,” Helfrich said.

Noteworthy:

– The format for the spring game hasn’t been completely determined, but Helfrich hopes it will be played like a regular football game. In the past, the team has awarded scores to players for good plays, like sacks and turnovers on defense. But those scores will be eliminated if a game is played.

“Hopefully, knock on wood, we can play a game,” Helfrich said. “That’s the goal right now.”

– Helfrich and Pellum discussed the new rule that penalizes defenders for low hits on quarterbacks. Pellum said it won’t change much on his side of the ball because defenders are taught to hit around the chest to waist area and try to strip the ball, which is usually held around shoulder height. Helfrich said the rule is “common sense” and that low tackles don’t happen that often.

“I think they’re trying to remove a dirty play, which is a good thing,” Helfrich said.

– Running backs coach Gary Campbell said Thomas Tyner and Byron Marshall have been getting some repetitions at wide receiver this spring.

“Both those guys have great hands, they run great routes,” Campbell said. “They’re not up to par with some of the receivers because they haven’t done a lot of it, but they’re capable.”

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Oregon baseball starting pitcher Matt Krook will undergo Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm Tuesday and will miss the rest of his freshman season, the university announced Monday afternoon. James Andrews will perform the surgery.

The left-hander had a 1.79 ERA and threw a Pac-12-leading 56 strikeouts before leaving Oregon’s game versus Washington with an elbow injury on April 5.

Krook received an MRI on his elbow 10 days ago but he and the team wanted a second opinion before deciding which course of action to take.

“As a pitcher, you kind of think you’re almost a ticking time bomb,” Krook said. “Everybody nowadays has to get something done. It’s unfortunate, but it’s what you sign up for.”

Krook is Oregon’s second left-handed starting pitcher to receive Tommy John surgery in the last two months. Cole Irvin underwent the procedure before the season and he, like Krook, will not return until 2015 at the earliest.

The Miami Marlins drafted Krook with the 35th overall pick in last year’s MLB draft, but they reduced their offer after he failed his physical (MRI results revealed a slight labrum tear). Krook was close to signing with the Marlins before the reduced offer but switched course and decided to play for the Ducks.

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Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota didn’t spend much time on the field Monday morning for the football team’s second spring scrimmage, but that didn’t mean his impact wasn’t felt.

“I looked over there (the sideline) several times today and he was talking with a couple offensive linemen, getting with some of our younger skill guys and doing a great job trying to help the progression,” head coach Mark Helfrich told reporters.

Helfrich has discussed Mariota’s body language and leadership skills throughout the spring, saying he needs to be more vocal, and Mariota agrees.

“The way I am, naturally just quiet, isn’t from a leadership standpoint good enough,” Mariota said. “I think I’ve learned that, made amends with it and just continue to focus on it.”

Mariota’s attitude about this and his actions today in the spring game encourage Helfrich, and Mariota appreciates the pressure from Helfrich to get him to this point.

“A lot of people don’t really tend to understand my body language,” Mariota said. “But I think he (Helfrich) has been around me enough that he understands it and I think he wants me just to be confident and show leadership.”

If Mariota continues to play at a Heisman trophy level, leadership and body language likely won’t be a huge concern to Helfrich and the rest of the team. But if he continues to be vocal like he was during Monday’s scrimmage, Mariota could provide an unseen positive effect on the Ducks’ success come fall.

Noteworthy:

– Dominique Harrison returned an interception about 100 yards today, Helfrich said. Neither Helfrich nor Mariota could confirm which quarterback threw the pick, just that it wasn’t Mariota.

“I think he’s come a long way in the sense that he’s been around the ball a lot and he’s made a lot of plays,” Mariota said of Harrison.

– Helfrich noted several solid performances during the scrimmage Monday. He said Stetzon Bair stood out on defense and Devon Allen, who just won the 110-meter high hurdles at the Oregon Relays. Helfrich said the redshirt freshman wide receiver was “awesome,” making several plays at receiver, covering punts and on returns.

“I just want to get out there and contribute, no matter what it is,” Allen said. “If I can catch a few touchdowns, that’s a bonus.”

– Helfrich was also impressed with kicker Matt Wogan.

“We put him in some adverse situations today and I think he was 100 percent (on field goals),” Helfrich said.

Helfrich was asked about Wogan’s place in the punter battle, as well, but the head coach said it’s an ongoing competition.

– Helfrich and Mariota talked about Sunday night’s tight playoff victory for the Portland Trail Blazers over the Houston Rockets. Helfrich said he used to be a big Blazers fan and he’s doesn’t like the NBA regular season, but he watched Sunday’s game.

“I stayed up and watched the end last night and that was hurting me,” Helfrich said. “Didn’t get my beauty sleep.”

Mariota, who didn’t stay up to watch the game, said wide receiver and Portland native Keanon Lowe is trying to make all of his teammates Blazers fans. Two of his fellow wide receivers, Chance Allen and Bralon Addison, are Houston natives, and Mariota said those three wideouts often engage in trash talk, but not for reasons many might suspect.

“Believe it or not, Chance and Bralon are big Lakers fans,” Mariota said. “Keanon always gives them something about the Lakers, so it kind of works both ways.”

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The Oregon baseball team (31-10, 10-5 Pac-12) narrowly beat Washington State 2-1 Saturday to sweep the Cougars (17-19, 7-8), thanks to some excellent defense from the Ducks’ outfielders.

In the eighth inning with Oregon up 2-1, Luke Stratman came up with two outs and hit a single up the middle that appeared to plate Michael Monda. But Austin Grebeck, who replaced Nick Catalano in the seventh, threw to Mark Karvaviotis, who tagged out Nick Tanielu rounding second base. The out occurred before Monda touched home, eliminating the would-be run and preserving Oregon’s lead.

“I knew it had to be a perfect throw home and I saw the guy round pretty hard,” Grebeck said postgame. “So, that was the best chance I had at at least ending the inning.”

Grebeck and head coach George Horton said the play was a mixture of instincts and work in practice.

“(Oregon coaches) talk so much about, ‘What if this?’ and ‘What if that?’ and priority Z, as we call it,” Horton said. “We don’t want our guys dwelling on priority Z and forgetting A and B and C and playing catch, but because we talk about that all the time we think we can get close to Z sometimes. … And then Austin Grebeck’s one of the few freshmen in America, because he’s a baseball kid, that would think about something like that.”

The Ducks, specifically second baseman Aaron Payne, went crazy after the game-saving play.

“I think that might be the most excited I’ve seen Payne get since I’ve been here,” freshman starting pitcher Trent Paddon said.

Both starting pitchers looked good to start the game, especially Washington State’s Jason Monda. He faced one batter over the minimum until the sixth inning.

Paddon faced more trouble but still put up zeroes through five, thanks in large part to the outfield defense.

In the top of the second, Paddon threw a wild pitch with two outs and runners on first and second to give the Cougars two runners in scoring position. Cooper Elliott, at the plate during the wild pitch, smoked a drive to left field but J.B. Bryant made a nice running catch to keep the game scoreless.

In the top of the fourth with runners on first and second, Collin Slaybaugh hit a single to right field and Tanielu (on second) was waved home. Tyler Baumgartner quickly scooped the ball up and fired home, throwing Tanielu out easily to end the inning.

The Ducks scored both runs with two outs in the sixth. A.J. Balta hit a double to right field to score Shaun Chase and tie the game.

“Usually what I do, just roll (the ball) over to second base,” Balta said. “I couldn’t do that. I had to try to square a ball up and get the run home.”

Baumgartner drove in Balta a pitch later on a softly hit single to left.

Paddon, making his second career start as the Ducks, earned his first win as Duck. He went six innings, giving up five hits, one walk and one run (earned) while striking out six, a career-high.

“There were more weapons for us to use with the changeup and the slider working a little bit better,” Paddon said.

The Ducks, who extended their winning streak to nine on Saturday, get nearly a week off before facing fifth-ranked Oregon State in Corvallis, Ore. The first game of the series will be Friday at 7 p.m.

Noteworthy:

– Payne stole his 41st career base in the eighth inning, breaking Oregon’s all-time record set by Don Reynolds in 1975.

– Horton hasn’t decided on next Sunday’s starter yet but said it’s between Paddon and Brando Tessar. Horton didn’t have an update on Matt Krook’s injury status but said the final decision will likely come Monday afternoon.

Follow Victor Flores on Twitter @vflores415

The Oregon baseball team (31-10, 10-5 Pac-12) narrowly beat Washington State 2-1 Saturday to sweep the Cougars (17-19, 7-8), thanks to some excellent defense from the Ducks’ outfielders.

In the eighth inning with Oregon up 2-1, Luke Stratman came up with two outs and hit a single up the middle that appeared to plate Michael Monda. But Austin Grebeck, who replaced Nick Catalano in the seventh, threw to Mark Karvaviotis, who tagged out Nick Tanielu rounding second base. The out occurred before Monda touched home, eliminating the would-be run and preserving Oregon’s lead.

“I knew it had to be a perfect throw home and I saw the guy round pretty hard,” Grebeck said postgame. “So, that was the best chance I had at least ending the inning.”

Grebeck and head coach George Horton said the play was a mixture of instincts and work in practice.

“(Oregon coaches) talk so much about, ‘What if this?’ and ‘What if that?’ and priority Z, as we call it,” Horton said. “We don’t want our guys dwelling on priority Z and forgetting A and B and C and playing catch, but because we talk about that all the time we think we can get close to Z sometimes. … And then Austin Grebeck’s one of the few freshmen in America because he’s a baseball kid that would think about something like that.”

The Ducks, specifically second baseman Aaron Payne, went crazy after the game-saving play.

“I think that might be the most excited I’ve seen Payne get since I’ve been here,” freshman starting pitcher Trent Paddon said.

Both starting pitchers looked good to start the game, especially Washington State’s Jason Monda. He faced one batter over the minimum until the sixth inning.

Paddon faced more trouble but still put up zeroes through five, thanks in large part to the outfield defense.

In the top of the second, Paddon threw a wild pitch with two outs and runners on first and second to give the Cougars two runners in scoring position. Cooper Elliott, at the plate during the wild pitch, smoked a drive to left field, but J.B. Bryant made a nice running catch to keep the game scoreless.

In the top of the fourth with runners on first and second, Collin Slaybaugh hit a single to right field and Tanielu (on second) was waved home. Tyler Baumgartner quickly scooped the ball up and fired home, throwing Tanielu out easily to end the inning.

The Ducks scored both runs with two outs in the sixth. A.J. Balta hit a double to right field to score Shaun Chase and tie the game.

“Usually what I do, just roll (the ball) over to second base,” Balta said. “I couldn’t do that. I had to try to square a ball up and get the run home.”

Baumgartner drove in Balta a pitch later on a softly hit single to left.

Paddon, making his second career start as the Ducks, earned his first win as Duck. He went six innings, giving up five hits, one walk and one run (earned) while striking out six, a career-high.

“There were more weapons for us to use with the change-up and the slider working a little bit better,” Paddon said.

The Ducks, who extended their winning streak to nine on Saturday, get nearly a week off before facing fifth-ranked Oregon State in Corvallis, Ore. The first game of the series will be Friday at 7 p.m.

Noteworthy:

– Payne stole his 41st career base in the eighth inning, breaking Oregon’s all-time record set by Don Reynolds in 1975.

– Horton hasn’t decided on next Sunday’s starter yet, but said it’s between Paddon and Brando Tessar. Horton didn’t have an update on Matt Krook’s injury status, but said the final decision will likely come Monday afternoon.

Follow Victor Flores on Twitter @vflores415

Oregon defensive lineman Arik Armstead played for the men’s basketball team as recently this past season, but in late January, he decided to leave the team to focus on football. Armstead, who’s going into his junior season with the Ducks, talked with the Emerald after Friday’s practice about leaving the basketball team, his offseason and former basketball teammate Johnathan Loyd, who is now his teammate on the football team.

How’s your offseason gone?

“It’s been going good. I worked hard in the winter, trying to get stronger and faster and try to take that into the spring.”

Has quitting basketball helped you as a football player?

“Definitely. Being around my teammates more and lifting a lot more than I would have definitely helped me.”

What was your reaction to the Oregon men’s basketball team’s NCAA tournament loss to Wisconsin?

“It was a rough loss. I felt like they could have beaten them, but basketball is a game of runs and Wisconsin went on a little run, so they couldn’t come back.”

Did you talk with any of the Oregon players after that?

“Yeah, I talked with some of the players. I see them on campus all the time. I didn’t really talk to them much about the season though, just saying what’s up.”

Did you talk to Joseph Young before he decided to stay at Oregon?

“No, I didn’t. I’d seen Joe a couple of times. We’re real cool, and I felt like he made the best decision for his career.”

Did you talk to Johnathan Loyd before he joined the football team?

“No, I didn’t know. He popped up at practice and everybody was telling me he was going to try out. But of course, now we’re together. It’s pretty cool.”

How surprising was it to see him out there for his first practice?

“It was pretty surprising. I know he was really good in high school, but he hasn’t played football in a while and he was good out there. It was surprising at first, but he’s one of the team now.”

How has he played?

“He’s been doing well for not playing football for so long and trying to get back into the swing of things. I think he’ll be just fine.”

Have you given him any advice and/or talked smack?

“I don’t play his position, so there’s not too much advice I can offer to him. I just try to help him in any way I can.”

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After Friday’s spring football practice, Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost discussed the offensive line’s progression these past three weeks. He also talked about teachable moments, the offense’s tempo and how the unlimited meals rule could affect his team — both players and coaches.

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Oregon baseball (29-10, 8-5 Pac-12) took advantage of some early Washington State mistakes and showed off its power in an 11-1 blowout win over the Cougars (17-17, 7-6) Thursday night at rainy PK Park.

Ducks starting pitcher Tommy Thorpe threw seven shutout innings, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out eight. Thorpe was happy with his performance but said he occasionally missed his targets.

“When we were going away, I’d miss in sometimes but they would swing at it, so I got a little lucky there,” Thorpe said postgame.

First baseman A.J. Balta led Oregon’s hitters, going 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and three RBIs.

A steady rain fell in the bottom of the first inning, and it appeared to affect the Cougars’ defense. Balta hit a one-out single and moved to third on a Tyler Baumgartner ground ball thanks to a throwing error to second base from first baseman Matt Mendenhall. Mitchell Tolman (2-for-3, two RBIs) came up next and hit a slow grounder to second but the ball scooted under Ian Sagdal’s glove, scoring Balta and moving Baumgartner (1-for-2, two walks, three runs) up to third. Kyle Garlick drew a walk and the fourth ball bounced away from catcher P.J. Jones, allowing Baumgartner to narrowly score. J.B. Bryant came up next and grounded to third base but Nick Tanielu threw it into right field, scoring Tolman and moving Garlick to third. Nick Catalano completed the scoring with a sacrifice bunt that plated Garlick, giving Oregon a 4-0 lead after one.

Oregon head coach George Horton was surprised by the Cougars’ poor defensive inning, especially because they’re used to rain in Pullman, Wash. He said the long bus ride might’ve been a key cause.

“Hopefully, they’ll give us a couple free bases tomorrow, as well,” Horton said.

The Ducks continued the scoring in the second inning. Aaron Payne hit a one-out single and moved to third on a groundout and a Joe Pistorese wild pitch, respectively. Baumgartner walked and Pistorese threw his third wild pitch of the game (sixth of the season) to score Payne. Tolman then hit a double to left center to score Baumgartner and give the Ducks a 6-0 lead.

After a scoreless third, the Ducks found the plate again in the fourth. Payne drew a two-out walk to set up Balta, who blasted a two-run home run to right field, putting the Ducks up 8-0.

“Fastball up and in, do what you have to do with it,” Balta said of the home run swing.

In the fifth inning with two outs, catcher Shaun Chase came up and demolished a 0-1 curveball to left center field right below the scoreboard.

“I was just surprised it was a curveball,” Chase said.

Chase’s solo home run was his fifth of the year, the highest among Oregon hitters and tied with California’s Derek Anderson for most in the Pac-12.

“The guy’s got electric in his hands,” Horton said of Chase, whose nickname is Whammer. “(Hitting coach Mark Wasikowski) doesn’t call him Whammer because that’s disrespectful to how he’s developed as a hitter … Now, he’s emerging into ‘Shaun Chase: hitter with power.’”

Payne led off the sixth with a single and Balta brought him home with a roped double into the right center field gap. Balta was thrown out at third attempting the get his second triple of the season. The Ducks didn’t stop there, though. Baumgartner narrowly missed a home run to right but still reached third base standing up for his team-leading fourth triple of the season. Steven Packard, pinch-hitting for Tolman, also crushed a shot to right field but Collin Slaybaugh caught it at the wall. Baumgartner easily scored on the sacrifice fly, putting the Ducks up 11-0.

Washington State got its one run in the top of the eighth. Oregon’s Cooper Stiles hit a batter, gave up two singles and Ben Roberts delivered a sacrifice fly.

The Ducks will look to win the series over Washington State tomorrow at 6 p.m.

“We have to show up ready to play tomorrow,” Horton said. “Washington State is a team that gets off the deck and does something about it.”

Noteworthy:

– Junior right-handed reliever Jack Karraker was brought in for the top of the eighth but didn’t even throw a pitch. Horton said a teammate stepped on Karraker’s right hand while stretching, causing his hand to bleed. Because the trainers couldn’t stop the bleeding, Horton had to call on Stiles to pitch the eighth and ninth innings.

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Before Wednesday’s baseball practice, Oregon head coach George Horton provided his impressions of upcoming opponent Washington State. The series starts Thursday at 6 p.m. and will be played at PK Park.

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The NCAA Legislative Council approved a rule on Tuesday that would allow student-athletes to receive unlimited meals and snacks. The rule can be finalized next Thursday when the Division I Board of Directors meets.

After Oregon’s spring football practice Wednesday, coaches and players were asked about the new rule, and a common theme emerged.

“That’s one of those things that we’ve kind of been arguing or questioning as long as I’ve been coaching, especially being able to feed walk-ons,” head coach Mark Helfrich told reporters.

Helfrich said it’s painful for him to see “the seas part” out of meetings, where scholarship players feast on large, delicious meals at the Hatfield-Dowlin complex while walk-on players have to fend for themselves. Some of the walk-ons have to work other jobs because they don’t get full-ride scholarships to attend Oregon, so Helfrich and defensive coordinator Don Pellum are happy that at least one more aspect of a walk-on’s life will be similar to scholarship players.

“Those kids are working as hard as everyone else,” Pellum said. “They deserve it (free meals).”

Helfrich and redshirt junior offensive lineman Tyler Johnstone were asked who was more excited about the rule: linemen or walk-ons? Johnstone, while excited about the rule from a personal perspective, unflinchingly said walk-ons. Helfrich’s answer was similar.

“A walk-on lineman,” Helfrich said jokingly.

Helfrich added that a walk-on lineman’s parents were probably just as excited and that the rule was a long time coming. He agreed with Pellum about walk-ons’ work ethic, too, as did Johnstone.

“We’re excited about being able to eat with the entire team finally,” Johnstone said.

Walk-0ns still have to sit tight before joining their teammates in the cafeteria. If the Division I Board passes it on April 24, it won’t become effective until Aug. 1. But the Ducks are confident it will go through, eliminating a much-maligned inequality from college locker rooms.

“Finally a little common sense (will be) at play,” Helfrich said.

Noteworthy:

– Pellum and Helfrich both discussed defensive lineman Sam Kamp after Wednesday’s practice. Pellum said Kamp has bulked up and is very cerebral. ”I think Sam will play some valuable minutes for us,” Pellum said.

Follow Victor Flores on Twitter @vflores415