The Owls ride into the winners bracket on a 10-game win streak (second longest streak in the country after Austin Peay's 16 straight wins), and now face off against host and national seed, Oregon Ducks (46-14, 23-7 at home, 6-10 vs. Top 50, 20-10 vs. Top 100,#7 ISR, #9 RPI, #4 SoS)...and winners of 17 of their last 21 games. The Ducks escaped the regional opener with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over #4 seed South Dakota State, despite generator just two hits offensively.

Oregon is not only a very well coached team (former long-time CSF Coach Horton), but a team hardened by playing one of the toughest schedules in the country. Though they do not scare anyone at the plate (they're hitting .260/.343/.354, 21 HRs, and averaging 4.9 runs per game, they are one of the very best pitching (2.76 ERA, .237 BAA, 2.16 K:BB ratio, 6.8 Ks/game) and defensive (.981 fielding percentage) teams in the country, and are arguably the best at executing the small ball game. They lead the nation in sac bunts (93) and are amongs the national leaders in stolen bases (79-109, for a 73% success rate). Everyone in the lineup steals bases and everyone except #3 hitter, Ron Healy, bunts...and freqiently. It is not unusual for Horton to call for the bunt with a runner on 2B and one out, to get the runner in position to score on a wild pitch or error. We need to be alert to the stolen base and the bunt at almost any time. Hit and run, as well.

The pitching matchup will be Jordan Stephens vs. Oregon's ace and Friday starter, So LHP Tommy Thorpe...

T.Thorpe (So, LHP): 15 starts, 7-4, 97.1 IP, 2.22 ERA, .221 BAA, 37 BBs, 8 HBP, 7 WP, 83 Ks

...they have a couple other quality middle relievers, but the Ducks rely on the 1-2 power pitching duo in the back of the bullpen of set-up man Fr LHP Garrett Cleavinger and elite closer Jr RHP Jimmie Sherfy...

G.Cleavinger (Fr, LHP): 35 app, 9-0, 2 saves, 39.1 IP, 1.37 ERA, .130 BAA, 23 BBs, 9 WPs, 51 Ks
J.Sherfy (Jr, RHP): 37 app, 2-0, 21 saves, 38.2 IP, 1.63 ERA, .212 BAA, 14 BBs, 53 Ks

...the duo have given up a combined 10 extrabase hits (all doubles) in almost 80 innings pitched. Both have been primarily used for one inning per outing (as they were used in their opening round win last night).

Here's Kendall's scouting report on Oregon's pitchers...

Quote:Sophomore left-handed pitcher Tommy Thorpe, who can get his fastball up to 90-91, but relies mostly on a heavy diet of off-speed stuff, leads the way with a 2.22 ERA in 97 1/3 innings of work...while relievers Garrett Cleavinger and Jimmie Sherfy are elite. Cleavinger is a stocky freshman lefty who can get up to 91, while Sherfy has been up to 98 at times this season.

Not only is Thorpe left-handed, but he specializes in a steady diet of off-speed pitches-- which has been the kryptonite to our batters all season long. The guys simply must make the adjustment-- hold back on the swing and go the opposite way. If we try to pull everything, it will be a very long day for our offense.

Offensively, #3 hitter Ron Healy is the one guy we cannot let beat us (.322/.398/.547, 10 HRs, 18 doubles, 52 RBIs, 5-7 SBs)...and those stats are against the #4 Stength of Schedule in the country and playing home games in an extreme pitcher-friendly park. Ailing leadoff hitter, Brett Thomas, who returned to action last night, is their other offensive threat (.324/.412/.426, 2 HRs, 15 doubles, 28 RBIs, 10 HBP, 12-15 SBs). However, their everyday lineup does feature 5 left-handed batters, which could pose a challege for Jordan. As a team, they both walk and strikeout at above-average rates, implying that their approach is to really work the count. Jordan needs to throw first pitch strikes and stay ahead in the count, or it could be a long day (especially with Zech unavailable out of the pen). What will be interesting to see is what The OG decides to do should we be nursing a one- or two-run lead late-- would he consider going with John Simms to close and hope to stay in the winners bracket? Would be an interesting decision either way...but, given the left-handed bats in the Duck's lineup, I would defintely expect Blake Fox to be the first call out of the bullpen today.

Here are Oregon's individual/team stats for the year...
http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?...OEM_ID=500

Let's find a way-- any way-- to extend our win streak to 11, and stay in the winners bracket. Just win, baby! Go Owls!