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In search of its first College World Series appearance in 72 years, Oregon's baseball team has traveled to Austin for a super regional that gets underway Saturday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The No. 11 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, Oregon is 43-16 this season. The sixth-seeded Longhorns are 43-13.
MORE:Three things to know about Oregon before super regional vs Longhorns
On Friday afternoon, Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski met with the media ahead of Saturday's opener. As did infielder Drew Smith, pitcher Cal Scolari and catcher Burke-Lee Mabeus. Here is what the Ducks had to say about the Longhorns:
Oregon's Drew Smith (17) runs to first base during an NCAA baseball game against Northwestern on Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman) (Amanda Loman/AP)
Wasikowski:"The Texas crowd, it's an awesome crowd. We're aware of that. Fortunately, we've played in front of some good crowds, home and road, whether it's in Eugene or even in the Big 10 Tournament against the University of Nebraska. We had a really hostile crowd there. We know that the Texas crowd is a really good crowd. A couple years back, we were at your rivals down the road (in College Station), and we experienced a really good crowd there. Hopefully that helps prepare us for the games that we're going to be playing this weekend. We're just excited about the enthusiasm for college baseball because it's never been higher and that means a great amount of crowd support."
Scolari: "They're a pretty physical team, they have a lot of guys with 20-plus homers. You don't stumble upon that all the time on the West Coast. So I think that's something that definitely jumps off the page for me. But in terms of my plan, it doesn't really change how I go about my business, like (I'm) just pitching to my strengths."
Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) catches a fly ball for an out during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against UC Santa Barbara at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, May 301 2026 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Wasikowski:"Yeah, Pac-Man is a good one. His family are just great people. He's obviously a tremendously-skilled player, and he's just the right guy. He's going to be one heck of a major leaguer if Lord willing, he stays healthy because he's just that kind of a player. He's gifted, he's skilled. We wanted him, we wanted him bad.
Smith: "I don't know. It makes my body feel pretty good as soon as I get out there. I feel like I don't got to do too much to get warmed up or anything like that, but I enjoy it.
Scolari: "Yeah, I would say the same. I think it makes me feel pretty loose. I'm actually kind of a big fan of it now that I've been here for a day or however long."
Mabeus:"It's very impressive. Obviously, I'm going to need to throw the ball well. But another thing that we take a lot of pride in is how we hold runners. Throughout the pitching staff, we do a good job of that. It's going to come down to my ability to throw and how the pitchers hold runners on, and I think we do a good job of that.
Texas Longhorns pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) throws a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Tarleton State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Wasikowski: "Dylan's got a great arm. He's got size, he's got angle to his fastball, he throws fastball, curveball, cutter and a change. He's had tremendous effectiveness, holds runners well, he's got good leg times. It's hard to beat a guy like that, right? Very few people have been able to get to him. His breaking ball is a major-league average pitch, if not above average pitch for the major league scale. At the college level, the scale is at the top end. His breaking ball maybe is the best in the country, maybe alongside one or two other guys, he's that good. So you know we're going to need to really be at our best to have a chance to be able to break him down.
Wasikowski:He's a good baseball coach, that's the style he is. He's won where he's gone. He's probably got a lot of people down the road that hate him, and I don't think he really cares. I think he just wants to win baseball games. His decisions are his decisions on why he goes places or what he's done. I just respect him, because I respect him for all the wins that he's been a part of and the programs he's been able to grow and develop. I've had a friendship with him. I think he's a really good person that has done a tremendous job with the programs he's been a part of."
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MORE:Three things to know about Oregon before super regional vs Longhorns
On Friday afternoon, Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski met with the media ahead of Saturday's opener. As did infielder Drew Smith, pitcher Cal Scolari and catcher Burke-Lee Mabeus. Here is what the Ducks had to say about the Longhorns:
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Oregon's Drew Smith (17) runs to first base during an NCAA baseball game against Northwestern on Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman) (Amanda Loman/AP)
On the expected crowd at UFCU Disch-Falk Field
Wasikowski:"The Texas crowd, it's an awesome crowd. We're aware of that. Fortunately, we've played in front of some good crowds, home and road, whether it's in Eugene or even in the Big 10 Tournament against the University of Nebraska. We had a really hostile crowd there. We know that the Texas crowd is a really good crowd. A couple years back, we were at your rivals down the road (in College Station), and we experienced a really good crowd there. Hopefully that helps prepare us for the games that we're going to be playing this weekend. We're just excited about the enthusiasm for college baseball because it's never been higher and that means a great amount of crowd support."
On the Ducks' impressions of the Texas lineup
Scolari: "They're a pretty physical team, they have a lot of guys with 20-plus homers. You don't stumble upon that all the time on the West Coast. So I think that's something that definitely jumps off the page for me. But in terms of my plan, it doesn't really change how I go about my business, like (I'm) just pitching to my strengths."
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) catches a fly ball for an out during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against UC Santa Barbara at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, May 301 2026 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
On recruiting Texas freshman Anthony Pack Jr.
Wasikowski:"Yeah, Pac-Man is a good one. His family are just great people. He's obviously a tremendously-skilled player, and he's just the right guy. He's going to be one heck of a major leaguer if Lord willing, he stays healthy because he's just that kind of a player. He's gifted, he's skilled. We wanted him, we wanted him bad.
On playing in the Texas humidity
Smith: "I don't know. It makes my body feel pretty good as soon as I get out there. I feel like I don't got to do too much to get warmed up or anything like that, but I enjoy it.
Scolari: "Yeah, I would say the same. I think it makes me feel pretty loose. I'm actually kind of a big fan of it now that I've been here for a day or however long."
On dealing with a Texas team that has stolen 109 bases
Mabeus:"It's very impressive. Obviously, I'm going to need to throw the ball well. But another thing that we take a lot of pride in is how we hold runners. Throughout the pitching staff, we do a good job of that. It's going to come down to my ability to throw and how the pitchers hold runners on, and I think we do a good job of that.
You must be registered for see images attach
Texas Longhorns pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) throws a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Tarleton State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
On Texas ace pitcher Dylan Volantis
Wasikowski: "Dylan's got a great arm. He's got size, he's got angle to his fastball, he throws fastball, curveball, cutter and a change. He's had tremendous effectiveness, holds runners well, he's got good leg times. It's hard to beat a guy like that, right? Very few people have been able to get to him. His breaking ball is a major-league average pitch, if not above average pitch for the major league scale. At the college level, the scale is at the top end. His breaking ball maybe is the best in the country, maybe alongside one or two other guys, he's that good. So you know we're going to need to really be at our best to have a chance to be able to break him down.
On Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle's coaching style
Wasikowski:He's a good baseball coach, that's the style he is. He's won where he's gone. He's probably got a lot of people down the road that hate him, and I don't think he really cares. I think he just wants to win baseball games. His decisions are his decisions on why he goes places or what he's done. I just respect him, because I respect him for all the wins that he's been a part of and the programs he's been able to grow and develop. I've had a friendship with him. I think he's a really good person that has done a tremendous job with the programs he's been a part of."
Continue reading...
