Oregon Ducks Dominate Nebraska to Advance to Big Ten Tournament Title Game

The Oregon Ducks are Big Ten championship game-bound following a dominant 8-0 shutout win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Oregon baseball coach Mark Wasikowski before the game against Cal Poly at PK Park. | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Following a 9-4 Saturday morning win over the No. 11-seeded Washington Huskies in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal, the No. 3-seeded Oregon Ducks faced a quick turnaround in the semifinals against the No. 2-seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers with a spot in Sunday’s championship game on the line in Omaha.   

In front of a sea of Nebraska fans at Charles Schwab Field, the Ducks shut out the Cornhuskers 8-0 to advance to Sunday's Big Ten championship game against the No. 1-seeded UCLA Bruins. The Ducks were led by sophomore right-handed pitcher Will Sanford's dominant performance on the mound. In six innings pitched, Sanford recorded nine strikeouts and allowed only two hits.

Offensively, the Ducks were led by home runs from Maddox Molony, Angel Laya, and Brayden Jaksa in the dominant win over the Cornhuskers, putting them in a great position to host a NCAA Tournament Regional heading into Sunday's Big Ten tournament title matchup against the Bruins.

Oregon and UCLA will play at 12 p.m. PT on Sunday.

LIVE SCORE UPDATES

FINAL SCORE: OREGON 8, NEBRASKA 0

BOTTOM OF NINTH: OREGON 8, NEBRASKA 0

-Max Buettenback pinch hits for Nebraska and his groundout secures the shutout win for Oregon.

-Sanderson hits a single for Nebraska with one out.

-Carey grounds out for Nebraska to start the ninth.

-Luke Morgan in at pitcher for Oregon to start the bottom of the ninth.

TOP OF NINTH: OREGON 8, NEBRASKA 0

-Smith's sacrifice fly makes it 8-0 Oregon as Cook scores.

-Cooney's walk puts runners on first and second with no outs for Oregon.

-Cook leads off the ninth with a single to left.

-Pryce Bender now on the mound for Nebraska to start the bottom of the ninth.

BOTTOM OF EIGHTH: OREGON 7, NEBRASKA 0

-Worthley strikes out to end the eighth as the shutout continues for Oregon.

-Moyer hits in-field single for the Cornhuskers, Stokes called out at second.

-Stokes hits a single to right for Nebraska with one out.

TOP OF EIGHTH: OREGON 7, NEBRASKA 0

-Oregon records no hits in the top of the eighth.

BOTTOM OF SEVENTH: OREGON 7, NEBRASKA 0

-Overbeek grounds out after an incredible diving play by Cooney for Oregon.

-Grego strikes out to begin the bottom of the seventh.

-Tanner Bradley takes the mound for Oregon in the bottom of the seventh.

TOP OF SEVENTH: OREGON 7, NEBRASKA 0

Oregon catcher Brayden Jaksa makes contact with the ball as the Oregon Ducks host the George Mason Patriots on Feb. 14, 2026, at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

-Jaksa's two-run home run to left extends Nebraska's lead to 7-0 in the top of the seventh.

-Smith's massive two-out triple makes it 5-0 Oregon. Cooney and Laya both score for the Ducks.

-Laya walk puts runners at first and second with two outs for Oregon.

-Cooney reaches to first on a wild throw after Cook is called out at second.

-Miranda hit by a pitch puts runner at first with one out.

-Brooks strikes out to begin the seventh inning for Oregon.

BOTTOM OF SIXTH: OREGON 3, NEBRASKA 0

Teammates congratulate Oregon pitcher Will Sanford, center, after he got the Ducks out of the second inning against Indiana at PK Park in Eugene March 13, 2026. | Chris Pietsch/The Register Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

-Sanderson strikes out to end the bottom of the sixth. Sanford continues to put together an impressive performance for the Ducks with nine strikeouts.

-Double play for Oregon after Carey hits a line drive to short.

-Worthley hits a lead off double for Nebraska in the bottom of the sixth.

TOP OF SIXTH: OREGON 3, NEBRASKA 0

-Molony strikes out to end the top of the sixth.

-Lauaki Jr. hits a single to left with two outs for Oregon.

-Mabeus grounds out for Oregon.

BOTTOM OF FIFTH: OREGON 3, NEBRASKA 0

-Moyer grounds out as the Ducks gets out of the jam.

-Stokes' line drive bunt forces an out.

-Buck records the first hit of the game for Nebraska putting runners at the corners with one out.

-Jesske leads off the bottom of the fifth with a walk.

TOP OF FIFTH: OREGON 3, NEBRASKA 0

-Smith strikes out for Oregon to end the top of the fifth.

-Laya hits his 14th home run of the season to give the Ducks a 3-0 lead.

-Cooney strikes out for Oregon. Blachowicz reaches eight strikeouts for Nebraska.

-Miranda strikes out to begin the top of the fifth.

BOTTOM OF FOURTH: OREGON 2, NEBRASKA 0

-Grego strikes out as Sanford's no-hitter continues through four innings, along with recording eight strikeouts.

-Sanderson flys out for Nebraska runners remain on first and second.

-Carey walk puts runners on first and second with one out for Nebraska.

-First base runner for Nebraska as Worthley is walked with one out.

-Moyer strikes out to begin the bottom of the fourth. Sanford has reached seven strikeouts for Oregon.

TOP OF FOURTH: OREGON 2, NEBRASKA 0

Oregon infielder Maddox Molony throws to first for an out as the Oregon Ducks host the Oregon State Beavers on April 25, 2025, at PK Park in Eugene. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

-Brooks strikes out to end the top of the fourth.

-Molony hits a solo home run, his 12th of the season to extend Oregon's lead to 2-0.

-Lauaki Jr. strikes out.

-Mabeus grounds out to begin the top of the fourth.

BOTTOM OF THIRD: OREGON 1, NEBRASKA 0

-Rhett Stokes flys out to end third inning.

-Jett Buck strikes out as Sanford reaches six strikeouts for Oregon.

-Joshua Overbeek strikes out to begin bottom of the third.

TOP OF THIRD: OREGON 1, NEBRASKA 0

-Nebraska records a double play with bases loaded for Oregon to end the top of the third.

-Smith walked making the bases loaded with one out for Oregon.

-Laya singles to center to put runners on first and second with one out.

-Gabe Miranda leads off the third inning with a pinch hit single to left field.

BOTTOM OF SECOND: OREGON 1, NEBRASKA 0

-Will Jesske flys out to left to end the second inning.

-Drew Grego strikes out looking. Four strikeouts in a row for Sanford.

-Case Sanderson strikes out to begin the bottom of the second.

TOP OF SECOND: OREGON 1, NEBRASKA 0

-Jack Brooks strikes out to end the top of the second.

-Maddox Molony strikes out.

-Naulivou Lauaki Jr. hits single off the wall.

-Burke-Lee Mabeus strikes out to begin top of the second.

BOTTOM OF FIRST: OREGON 1, NEBRASKA 0

-Dylan Carey strikes out to end the first. Sanford records two strikeouts to start for Oregon.

-Jeter Worthley strikes out.

-Mac Moyer grounds out to begin inning for Nebraska.

-Will Sanford starts on the mound for Oregon.

TOP OF FIRST: OREGON 1, NEBRASKA 0

Oregon infielder/outfielder Drew Smith hits a triple as the Oregon Ducks host the Youngstown State Penguins on Feb. 19, 2026, at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

-Drew Smith records RBI groundout as Ducks strike first.

-Angel Laya grounds out, Cooney advances to third.

-Ryan Cooney leads off with a double for Oregon.

-Gavin Blachowicz starts on the mound for Nebraska.

LINEUPS

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS

1. Mac Moyer
2. Jeter Worthley
3. Dylan Carey
4. Case Sanderson
5. Drew Grego
6. Will Jesske
7. Joshua Overbeek
8. Jett Buck
9. Rhett Stokes
10. Gavin Blachowicz

OREGON DUCKS

1. Ryan Cooney
2. Angel Laya
3. Drew Smith
4. Brayden Jaksa
5. Burke-Lee Mabeus
6. Naulivou Lauaki Jr.
7. Maddox Molony
8. Jack Brooks
9. Jax Gimenez
10. Will Sanford

PREVIEW

Oregon infielder Ryan Cooney celebrates a double as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on May 14, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Nothing brings an Oregon Ducks fan more joy than ending the season of one of their biggest rivals. That’s exactly what the Ducks did as they dominated the Washington Huskies 9-4 in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal on Saturday morning at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. 

Despite giving up a grand slam to Washington senior inflieder Ty Cowan in the top of the ninth, Oregon dominated the Huskies in the quarterfinal win. Five different Oregon players recorded home runs in the win over Washington, including Naulivou Lauaki Jr., Drew Smith, Brayden Jaksa, Jack Brooks, and Gabe Miranda. 

Oregon outfielder Angel Laya, center, and Oregon infielder Naulivou Lauaki Jr., left, celebrate a home run by Laya as the Oregon Ducks host the Oregon State Beavers on March 3, 2026, at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Four of those home runs were back-to-back in the fifth and sixth innings for the Ducks. With a quick turnaround heading into Oregon’s semifinal matchup against Nebraska, the Ducks' bats will look to stay hot as they aim to advance to the Big Ten championship game to take on the No. 1-seeded UCLA Bruins. 

Nebraska enters Saturday night’s semifinal matchup following a thrilling 6-4 win over the No. 7-seeded Michigan Wolverines in a game that went into the wee hours of Saturday morning in Omaha. 

In the quarterfinal win over Michigan, Nebraska was led by junior infielder Case Sanderson, who went 3-for-4, falling just short of completing the cycle, while recording three runs for the Cornhuskers. 

Sanderson is a player the Cornhuskers will look to rely on against the Ducks as they’ll face Oregon in a semifinal matchup likely filled with a large number of Nebraska fans at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. 

Other players to watch for Nebraska in the semifinal matchup against Oregon include senior infielder and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Dylan Carey. This season for the Cornhuskers, Carey has recorded 79 hits, 63 RBI’s, 52 runs, and 14 home runs with an OPS of 1.035 and a batting average of .346.

Oregon’s Cal Scolari, center, celebrates the end of the first inning against Nebraska at PK Park in Eugene April 12, 2026. | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Nebraska outfielder Drew Grego is another player to watch for the Cornhuskers in the semifinal matchup against Oregon. In what has been an impressive first season for the Cornhuskers, Grego has recorded 56 hits, 44 RBI’s, 33 runs, and seven home runs.

Not only are the Cornhuskers aiming to advance to the championship with a win over Oregon, but they also look to keep alive their dreams of a third consecutive Big Ten Tournament title. 

After an impressive performance on the mound from Oregon redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Cal Scolari, who recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts in the quarterfinal win over the Huskies, the Ducks' pitching looks to remain sharp against the Cornhuskers.

Oregon is looking to continue improving its odds of hosting an NCAA Tournament Regional in Eugene, and a win over Nebraska will benefit the Ducks' chances and put them in a good position to host.

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