Updated June 7, 2026, 5:08 p.m. PT

The Oregon Ducks have their backs against the wall on the heels of an ugly loss to open the Austin Super Regional against the Texas Longhorns.

The Ducks fell 11-3 on Saturday night, despite outhitting the Longhorns. Free passes doomed the Ducks on the mound quickly. Cal Scolari didn’t have his best stuff, walking six and surrendering five runs in just 3 ⅔ innings. As a pitching staff, the Ducks issued eight walks and hit three batters.

Texas had a hard time cashing in with runners on the bases, but Oregon’s wildness on the mound afforded the Longhorns second chances. Texas took a 7-0 lead in the fifth before the Ducks finally got on the board in the sixth with a pair of RBI walks.

Oregon had nine hits, including a Drew Smith home run in the eighth, but the Ducks stranded 17 baserunners. As a team, the Ducks were 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position. That’s a tough pill to swallow, but a category the Ducks must improve in to keep their season alive.

Will Sanford (9-2, 3.46 ERA) will draw the start for the Ducks and look to give the team some length. Sanford struck out a career-high 14 batters in his last outing against Washington State. After Mark Wasikowski used four bullpen arms on Saturday, Sanford will need to get into the middle of the game to keep the Ducks in it.

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Texas will roll with Ruger Riojas (5-2, 3.86 ERA) with a spot in Omaha on the line. Riojas missed time with an injury recently, but returned for the regional round and tossed five innings against UC Santa Barbara, allowing one run and striking out six. Riojas has given up six home runs this season, including one in each of his last four full outings. Look for the Ducks to take advantage.

The Ducks will serve as the home team for the second game of the series.

Follow along with live inning-by-inning updates as the Ducks aim to keep their season alive against the Longhorns. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT, and the game will air live on ESPN.

Starting Lineups

Oregon Ducks:

LF Jax GimenezRF Angel Laya2B Ryan Cooney3B Drew Smith1B Brayden JaksaC Burke-Lee MabeusDH Naulivou Lauaki Jr.SS Maddox MolonyCF Jack Brooks

Texas Longhorns:

RF Aiden RobbinsC Carson TinneyLF Anthony Pack Jr.2B Temo BecerraSS Adrian RodriguezDH Ethan Mendoza1B Ashton Larson3B Casey BorbaCF Dariyan Pendergrass

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