Rutgers’ Landon Mack had a career day to shock No. 9 Oregon in Eugene and even up the weekend series.
He limited the Ducks to just two hits and a hit-by-pitch across his seven terrific scoreless innings as the Scarlet Knights (10-13, 2-3 Big Ten) blanked Oregon 8-0.
The Scarlet Knights’ freshman righty dominated the Ducks (18-5, 6-2 Big Ten) across all facets of the contest as Oregon dropped just its second conference game of the season and was shut-out for the first time in 2025.
Oregon’s Collin Clarke struck-out four batters in the second frame. The Scarlet Knights’ leadoff man fanned, but reached on a wild pitch, allowing Clarke to accomplish the rare four-strikeout-inning-feat.
Rutgers recorded its first hit off Clarke in the third frame as two-straight hitters reached to open the frame. A sacrifice bunt from Trevor Cohen put a pair of runners in scoring position for Ty Doucette, who launched his fifth bomb of the season to put the Scarlet Knights ahead 3-0.
He worked a clean fourth frame but allowed a pair of runners to reach with two outs in the fifth. This time, however, he worked out of the jam without allowing further damage.
Oregon’s offense, meanwhile, was nowhere to be found. Mason Neville led the bottom of the first off with a single, but his knock would serve as the Ducks’ only hit until the seventh inning.
Two more Rutgers runners reached to start the sixth and another sacrifice bunt moved them into scoring position. It looked to be a replica of the third frame, but RJ Johnson’s RBI groundout would be the extent of the Knights’ scoring for the inning.
The sixth would be Clarke’s final frame. Across his 107 pitches, he allowed four runs on five hits while fanning seven and only walking one. Had he had even an ounce of run support, he could have had Oregon in a good spot to earn the series win.
Ryan Featherston took over for the seventh and things quickly unraveled for the Ducks. A string of four hits and two Oregon defensive errors gave way to a four-run inning that opened up an 8-0 Rutgers advantage. As they stretched at PK Park, the Ducks had just one hit, which was also their only baserunner to that point.
Mack entered the bottom of the seventh having thrown just 71 pitches. A Chase Meggers double finally ended his string of 19-straight retired hitters, but Meggers would be stranded as Mack continued his scoreless outing.
On the bright side, Drew Smith pinch-hit in the eighth inning. He’s been recovering from an injury he sustained early in the season, but appears closer to a return after getting an at-bat in on Friday.
Mack turned the pitching duties over to the bullpen in the eighth and the Knights’ relievers went the rest of the way as they evened the series. The rubber match is slated for 12:05 p.m. tomorrow.
