Going into their series with Oregon State, the Oregon baseball team knew the results would say more about them as a team this season than any other series.
The men had been successful, winning 15 of their last 16 games and sweeping the last three weekend series, but Oregon State was a measuring stick on many levels. Oregon State is the Ducks’ rival, their competition for the Pac-12 title, possible competition to host super regionals and the second-highest ranked team they face this season.
Oregon failed to make a statement in the series, getting blown out in the final two games with a -19 run differential. Now, in the final stretch of the season, the Ducks are far from where they want to be.
The Ducks have proved throughout the season that they are a strong team worthy of a top-10 ranking, but their slump, threatening to seep into the postseason, is ill-timed.
Oregon’s pitching, second in the conference and 10th in the nation in ERA, has always been the Ducks’ biggest weapon, but their staff ripped at the seams in the final two games. Oregon State had their way with them, scoring 21 runs in two games. Oregon’s collective ERA on the season is 2.58.
Their defense, best in the country for much of the season, has looked sloppy since mid-April and has dropped from first to fifth over the past month.
Their hitting, something they have struggled with all season, has gone completely cold. Ryon Healy, their best hitter throughout the season, has struggled at the plate over the past couple weeks, often times overthinking his at-bats.
In the final game against Oregon State, Healy had an opportunity he had relished all season: two runners on base, one out, looking at a 3-0 count. He took the fourth pitch and grounded out into a double play to end the inning.
“I thought it was a good pitch,” said Healy after the game. “That was the most frustrating thing, the fact that I wasn’t able to come through for (my team) in that situation.”
Healy showed his frustration after the ground out, throwing his bat into the air as he walked toward the dugout. The flip of the bat was telling of more than just one squandered opportunity though. The Ducks talk often about having a short memory, but their play on Sunday didn’t back up that sentiment.
After Oregon was shut out by freshman pitcher Andrew Moore on Saturday, a former North Eugene High School stand out that was heavily recruited by Oregon, Senior J.J. Altobelli said the solution was simple: just put it in the past.
“Gotta have a quick memory,” said Altobelli.
His thoughts on the solution were more complicated after Sunday’s loss: “I don’t know, (forgetting) is going to be tough. We have to find a way to do it.”
It will be tough as the teams play again on Tuesday, this time in Corvallis. Oregon won’t have their season-long backbone pitching, and with Oregon’s issues primarily being mental, a loss could quickly send them into a tailspin, erasing their Omaha aspirations.