Texas and Oregon are headed for a heavyweight Super Regional showdown at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, with a trip to Omaha on the line. The best-of-three series opens at 7 p.m. Saturday, continues at 8 p.m. Sunday, and if necessary wraps up Monday at a time still to be determined. Both games this weekend will air on ESPN.
The Longhorns come into the series at 43-13 after steamrolling through the Austin Regional, outscoring their opponents 41-7. Texas has been here before. This is its 14th Super Regional appearance and the program has traditionally handled this stage well, posting a 24-10 record in Super Regional play since the field expanded in 1999. Oregon, meanwhile, arrives at 43-16 after winning the Eugene Regional with victories over Oregon State, Washington State and Yale, giving the Ducks a third Super Regional trip in the last four years.
On the mound, Texas is expected to lean on Dylan Volantis, who has been one of the most dominant arms in the country this season. He enters the Super Regional with a 1.94 ERA, 116 strikeouts and just 23 walks in 83.1 innings. Texas also brings a deep pitching staff that includes Luke Harrison, Ruger Riojas and Max Grubbs, giving the Longhorns plenty of options if the series turns into a bullpen game. Oregon’s staff is led by right-handers Tanner Bradley and Will Sanford, with Sanford coming in as one of the Ducks’ most trusted arms and Bradley posting a team-best 1.83 ERA. Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski has also pointed to the Ducks’ power arms out of the bullpen as a strength heading into the series.
At the plate, Texas has gotten production from a lineup built around balance and depth. Carson Tinney gives the Longhorns a legitimate threat in the middle of the order, while Aiden Robbins and Ethan Mendoza have helped add contact and on-base pressure. Oregon’s offense is led by Ryan Cooney, who tops the Ducks with a .335 average and 80 hits, while Drew Smith has provided the pop with a team-high 15 home runs and 61 RBIs. Jack Brooks has also been a factor on the bases with a team-best 16 stolen bases, giving Oregon a little more speed to mix in with its power.
The matchup is especially appealing because it comes with no recent history to lean on. Texas and Oregon have never met before on the baseball diamond, which adds a little extra intrigue to a series that already carries postseason weight. The Longhorns have the home-field edge and the more established Super Regional track record, but Oregon has shown enough pitching and timely offense to make this a real series.
