3 p.m. update: Iowa wins 3-1. Ducks will play loser of Missouri State-Canisius at 11 a.m. Saturday.

2:40 p.m. update: Game is set to resume at 2:50 p.m., about 10 minutes from now.

2:20 p.m. update: The game is in a rain delay, with the tarp on the field. The Ducks are down to their last three outs in the top of the ninth inning, trailing 3-1.

2:05 p.m. update: Ducks load the bases in the top of the eighth, but the Hawkeyes get out of the jam unscathed. Iowa leads 3-1 heading to the bottom of the eighth.

1 p.m. update: Iowa picks up another run in the bottom of the fifth, so Oregon trails 3-1 heading to top of sixth. Considering the bases were loaded with no outs, however, things could have been worse for the Ducks.

12:12 p.m. update: Hawkeyes get another run in the top of the fourth, grab the lead back at 2-1 heading to the bottom of the fourth.

11:55 a.m. update: Iowa takes a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. In the top of the third, Ducks get runners on first and third with one out, and then Grebeck drives in Karaviotis to tie the game at 1-1. Double play ends the inning, so on to the bottom of the third.

Oregon faces Iowa in the 2015 college baseball tournament Friday morning in Springfield, Missouri. Get live updates, scores and analysis in the comments thread.

When: 11 a.m. PT

Where: Hammons Field, Springfield, Mo.

Watch: Live stream on WatchESPN

Listen: 95.3 FM in Eugene

Records: Oregon (37-23, 16-14 Pac-12); Iowa (39-16, 19-5 Big Ten)

Starters: LHP Cole Irvin (2-4, 4.01 ERA) vs. RHP Blake Hickman (9-2, 2.90)

Preview:

"But it's been a gradual process. The Ducks didn't really take the ropes off Irvin until late March, keeping him under a strict pitch count. And even though Irvin said he felt fine physically, the results didn't quite match up to what fans saw from him two years ago. Irvin was pelted by Arizona (eight earned runs in 1 2/3 innings) and scorched by USC (seven earned in 3 2/3 ), but over the last month, the Yorba Linda, California, native said he's found a rhythm. Irvin has made it to the seventh inning in each of his last four starts, and has allowed just 11 runs over his last 27 2/3 innings. On Friday, Irvin made it into the eighth inning for the first time this season, matching UCLA ace James Kaprielian pitch for pitch. And if wasn't for a bit of inaccuracy with four walks, there's a chance Irvin would have had a shot at going the distance.

"Each week for the last four or five weeks, I've been getting better," Irvin said. "My stuff is getting sharper and stronger and I'm able to paint the corners and use my stuff like I did my freshman year."

He can't go quite as long as he did his freshman year -- "trying to keep it under 100, doctor's orders" -- but the Ducks are hoping that's just enough. If Irvin can make it into the seventh for a fifth straight week, it will set up the backend of Oregon's bullpen nicely with Stephen Nogosek and Garrett Cleavinger available. And if Irvin can advance the Ducks into Saturday with a win, Oregon will have David Peterson and Josh Graham, who have both pitched well over recent weeks, ready to go, making Oregon's rotation a threat for the first time this season.

"It's a better feeling for sure than, 'What are we going to get this weekend?'" Horton said. "The consistency of the starting pitching (has improved) and hopefully that shows up. He's still a young man, and he's only got one, two years under his belt and it's still the regionals so he might succumb to that a little bit, I hope not, but he's certainly the most mature guy, for sure.""

More from The Oregonian's preview here.

Videos:

Links:

A healthy Scott Heineman transforms the heart of Oregon's order.

If the Ducks make it past the regional, they may have Matt Krook back.

The full NCAA Baseball Tournament bracket.

Springfield Regional at a glance.

Ducks sneak into the tournament.

Tolman, Cleavinger earn all-Pac-12 honors.

-- Tyson Alger

talger@oregonian.com

@tysonalger