247 SPORTS: Ducks baseball aims for consistency against Beavers (1 photo, article)
In that marathon of a season, building consistency is one of the most critical steps. A team that has consistency from four levels: pitching, hitting, defense, and desire. Pitching and hitting come as the season moves forward. Against Seattle, Oregon featured consistent pitching, holding the Redhawks to four or fewer runs in three of the four contests. But hitting, well, wasn’t as consistent. The Ducks scraped by with a walk-off win in game one, put up a six-spot in game two, but faltered the rest of the series, failing to produce with runners in scoring positions.
Oregon found plenty of consistency in their series against UCSB, pitching and hitting performing at high levels. A cause for celebration? Wasikowski thinks not.
“Well, I mean, I’m not going to get the pom-poms out,” said Wasikowski to a group of reporters Tuesday. “We did it for one weekend, and two weekends ago, I thought we stunk.
“The bottom line is I think we need to keep a level perspective. Yes, last weekend was a really good moment. Let’s keep it there.”
The quest for consistency does not get easier for Duck baseball. In-state rival No. 16 Oregon State is next on the schedule. A non-conference three-game series in Corvallis makes it two straight series on the road for Oregon. It’s been nearly two years since these rivals have gone at it on the diamond, with the last meeting coming May 2019.
“It is just another game because really, you’re just playing against the game of baseball, you’re not really playing against who’s on the other side,” said Wasikowski regarding their trip to Corvallis. “The rivalry piece, it’s only a rivalry if both teams are good.
“If it’s a lopsided deal, one sides winning a bunch over the others, that’s not a rivalry, that’s a butt-kicking. For me, it’s real simple: It’s our job to make this thing a rivalry. And the way you do that is you do it by year. Last year could be extremely competitive, but it’s all about what it is this year.”
Since 2016, the Ducks and Beavers have met 19 times during regular season and conference play, with the Beavers winning 14 of those contests. For Coach Wasikowski and the Ducks, this is about turning a new page and finding consistency against their in-state rival. It will not be an easy task, as the Beaves find themselves ranked in the top-25 once again and heading into the weekend on a 10-game winning streak.
For seniors Robert Ahlstrom and Kenyon Yovan, the duo lost this rivalry in the pandemic shortened season of 2020. They both hope to leave an impression on the roster, in this rivalry, with one year left for years to come.
“Personally, I haven’t played Oregon State since my sophomore year (2017),” said Yovan on Tuesday. “I’ve had it marked on my calendar for a while. Especially going back to Corvallis, it’s been something I’ve been fired up to play a series against. You know we get them (Oregon State) six times this year. That’s six times I get to prove a point.
“Everyone on our team takes it a little more personal when it’s Oregon State.”
For both Yovan and Ahlstrom, two players who grew up in Oregon, there’s a personal connection on the field, as well.
“Growing up in Eugene and going to Civil War games in the past, there’s a little added incentive,” said Ahlstrom. “I think it’s going to be an awesome series. Both teams, I feel, are turning in the right direction. We’re coming off a really good series, and Oregon State’s been playing really good baseball. It’s going to be fun to play in, fun to watch. I’m excited to go out there and compete, hopefully, get three wins.”
The three-game series begins Friday, with the first pitch scheduled for 5:35 PM PST. The Ducks have yet to announce their starters for the series, as the team hopes to continue gaining consistency on the marathon that is college baseball.
