For the first time in two years, Oregon’s Club baseball team will have the chance to play a league game on its home field.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Ducks will play three games — a doubleheader on Saturday and one game on Sunday — at Eugene’s Civic Stadium against Western Washington, one of their toughest competitors in league play. Oregon will begin play at 11 a.m.on both days and is looking forward to finally having home field advantage.
After playing six-straight games on the road during spring break, Oregon will try to play off the momentum it gained after going 5-1 against Central Oregon Community College and Evergreen State.
Oregon battled Central Oregon Community College in Bend on March 20 and 21. The Ducks lost their first game 11-8 but quickly rebounded and won the second game of the doubleheader 4-1. In the final game of the three-game series, Oregon’s offense took over as it beat Central Oregon by its widest margin of victory, 12-5.
“The COCC game was a whole-team effort,” Jay Tlougan said. “Everyone was playing good defense.”
Travis Chock led Oregon all weekend in a number of categories, as he recorded nine RBIs, four stolen bases and hit two home runs in only three games.
The Ducks finished off the break by traveling to Olympia, Wash., to compete against Evergreen State on March 27 and 28. Oregon hoped to end its weeklong break in the same fashion it began it: winning games.
The Ducks did just that as they outscored Evergreen State by double digits in all three games. Oregon outscored Evergreen State 40-2 overall, winning its first game 12-0, its final game of the doubleheader 13-0, and then its lone game on Sunday by a score of 15-2.
Oregon played flawlessly on both offense and defense and saw impressive pitching by Matt Mensik and Tlougan.
“Jay and Matt both pitched no-hitter complete game shutouts,” coordinator Jon Loomis said.
Tlougan, a Jackson Hole, Wyo., native, said the series was a testament to “how well the team works and competes together.”
Mensik, who had 12 strikeouts against Evergreen State, agreed that the team’s wins have been a combination of strong teamwork and collaboration.
“We have been going out there and everyone has been contributing and we’ve just been getting the job done,” Mensik said.
After Oregon’s debut at home this weekend, the Ducks will play at Volcano Stadium in Keizer on April 10 and 11 against Central Oregon Community College.

Another top-ten finish
Nine Club racquetball players traveled to Fountain Valley, Calif., to participate in the 32nd USAR National Intercollegiate Championships on March 24 through 27.
Both men and women represented Oregon on the team’s spring break trip, and when the final results were tallied, the Ducks finished 10th overall in the Division I bracket and 12th overall out of the 45 universities in the tournament. The women’s team finished ninth overall.
“It was a great experience,” Alexis Karlson-Martini said. “Many of our seniors talked about wanting to apply to graduate school just so they could come back next year.”
The tournament was a national qualifier for the USA Racquetball Team and the top male and female winners of the tournament were invited to join the USA Team after placing first. As many as 271 participants entered in the tournament to vie for a spot on the team.