Everything in the SEC “just means more.” Everything in Texas is just a little bigger.

Now, it’s up to the Oregon Ducks to conquer those expectations. A veteran group with big-game experience, with a trio of freshmen sluggers mixed in, the Ducks are headed to the Austin Super Regional to face Texas, and some demons from the past as well.

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In 2024, Oregon’s last trip to the Super Regionals, the Ducks fell flat and were swept on the road by Texas A&M. The Aggies were a seasoned group and finished the season as the runner-ups in the College World Series. The Ducks didn’t lose to some slouch, but it was still a humbling experience.

A raucous crowd of Aggie fans made life difficult on Oregon’s untested lineup and stable of arms. However, a couple of years later, things are different for the Ducks. They have the experience in front of thousands of opponents in the stands, and they’ve thrived in the situation.

“I honestly just think it’s really fun to play in those big environments,” Oregon pitcher Will Sanford told reporters on Tuesday. “Even the one in Nebraska, I thought it was great even though there’s (close to) 13,000 fans against you. I think it just makes it more fun, and you should enjoy it.”

In the Big Ten Tournament, played in Nebraska’s backyard, Sanford tossed six shutout innings and picked up nine strikeouts as the Ducks silenced the Cornhusker crowd in an 8-0 victory. This past weekend, Sanford struck out a career-high 14 against Washington State to advance to the regional final, this time with the energy of the crowd behind him.

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Whether the stands are loaded with green or roaring against them, the Ducks haven’t shivered under pressure this season.

“You either have ‘it,’ or you don’t,” Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski said. “And what we’re finding through all of these pressure-type moments is the players that we’ve got, a lot of them right now on our roster seem like they can handle the environments.”

Two of Oregon’s leaders in the middle infield, Ryan Cooney and Maddox Molony, were both freshmen when the Ducks fell apart in College Station. Two years later, barreling into a similar situation, Cooney knows what it takes to prevail in a difficult environment.

“Understanding how important each other is in the dugout in those moments,” Cooney said. “If you get wrapped up in the fans and the loud noises and what they’re trying to do to you, you’re going to lose. I think we’ve been able to handle that and grow as a group, specifically those guys that experienced (the Texas A&M games in 2024), but also the younger guys who experienced Nebraska this year and PK Park as well.”

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The mental process has been huge for the Ducks down the stretch of the season. As the high-pressure moments become more frequent, Wasikowski has stressed the importance of breath control to his team.

Molony has taken that to heart. The local kid felt the weight of the world on his shoulders as the shortstop for the Ducks as a freshman in the Super Regionals. As a junior with hopes to be selected in the upcoming MLB draft, Molony’s process has slowed down.

“Looking back on that, in the moment it felt a little bigger than just another game,” Molony said. “But looking back on it years later, you realize it is just another game, and you still play nine innings, 27 outs, and that’s all it really is, no matter where it’s played.

“I think me being able to take that approach into it is gonna make this a more successful run.”

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The Ducks trailed early on against rival Oregon State in the final of the Eugene Regional. With two outs, the crowd at PK Park quickly built into a roar that felt more common in Autzen Stadium.

Noise is a challenge to navigate in baseball, whether it is in support of you or meant to rattle you. Drew Smith didn’t let it faze him, lacing a single into right field to tie the game. A year ago, that level of composure seemed inconceivable.

Heading back to Texas as the underdog against a Longhorns group that tackled the SEC’s star power all season long, the calm and cool approach is now a necessity.

“I just see development and growth in this team, where at the beginning of the year they wouldn’t have been able to handle some things that we’ve been able to handle late in the year,” Waskikowski said. “One of my asks has been to keep the jersey on, just to where we can continue to improve, because I don’t think we’ve reached our peak yet inside that locker room.”

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The Ducks will take on Texas on Saturday to begin a best-of-three series in the Austin Super Regional. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. PT, and the game will air live on ESPN.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon unafraid of the moment on the road at Texas in Super Regional