 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
 | Softball |
|
|
Tigers End Oregon's Season
Rick Morgan
With a 7-3 win Missouri eliminated Oregon from the 2010 NCAA Super Regional tournament Sunday in Columbia. Oregon finishes with an over all record of 36-21, ending a season that represented a significant change of fortunes. Last year's team had failed to qualify for the post season and head coach Kathy Arendsen was replaced by Mike White.
Incoming freshman Jessica Moore, Allie Burger and Sam Pappas took advantage of early playing time and White's squad enjoyed a turnaround that saw them ranked in the top 20 for most of the season and set several milestones along the way - including a defeat of national champion Washington and the first series sweep - of California - at Howe Field in several years.
Facing Missouri in a best of three series after winning the Atlanta region the week before, Oregon ran into a tough opponent on their home field. The 8th ranked Tigers were seeking to return to the College World Series after an appearance last year and a 1-0 defeat in the opening game left the Ducks with no margin for error when the two teams took the field Sunday.
Missouri struck quickly, getting to Moore for a pair of runs in the first and she yielded a solo home run in the fourth.
In the fifth, the Tigers tagged reliever Samantha Skillingstad for three runs and that was more than enough to end Oregon's tournament run.
Oregon centerfielder Neena Bryant closed a brilliant career with a three for four day at the plate but Missouri pitcher Kristin Nottleman throttled the rest of the Ducks running her record to 24-7. Moore finished the year 16-13 and a school season record 238 strike outs. |
Tigers Escape 1-0
Rick Morgan
Missouri scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning and held on tight for a 1-0 victory over Oregon at the NCAA softball Super Regional in Columbia on Saturday. If Oregon is to advance to Oklahoma City and the College Softball World Series, the Ducks will need to defeat the Tigers twice on Sunday.
Oregon certainly had their opportunities; the Ducks left eight runners on base and out hit the Tigers 6-4.
Starting pitcher Jessica Moore took the loss but could sue her teammates for non-support. The freshman right-hander kept the Tiger batters off stride with her drop, striking out five without a walk and yielded an unearned run on four hits.
A scoreless game seemed to turn in Oregon's favor in the top half of the fifth. Ashley Kivett singled then Kaitlin Vitek doubled to open up the frame. But Oregon's best hitter Alley Burger flied out to left and Neena Bryant struck out. After Sam Pappas was intentionally walked, Kelsey Chambers was coaxed into bouncing out to shortstop, ending the threat.
Missouri took quick advantage of the dodged bullet. Moore retired the first two hitters but after surrendering a single up the middle, moved the runner to second with a wild pitch. A single and a throwing error by third baseman Monique Fuiava plated the games only run.
The Ducks put a runner on second in the top of the sixth but stranded her there and was retired in order in the seventh, setting the stage for two must win games on Sunday. First pitch is at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. If Oregon is able to even the series the deciding game is to played immediately after. |
Ducks Dust Yellow Jackets
Don Smalley
Oregon knew it wouldn't be easy to defeat the No.8 team in the nation on their home field for the second time.
And it wasn't.
But Oregon found a way to beat Georgia Tech 4-3 in eight innings advancing to the Super Regional for the first time in the program's history. The Ducks will go to Missouri and face the Tigers in a best of three series for a berth in the 2009 Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
The Ducks and Tigers will open up play Friday in Columbus at 11:30 am Friday.
But in order to face the Tigers, the Ducks had to get by the Yellow Jackets one more time and Georgia Tech wouldn't make it easy.
Oregon built a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. But Georgia Tech set the table perfectly, putting their first two runners on base for the nation's best hitter, Jen Yee. The senior second baseman leads the nation with 29 homers and had hit one earlier in the day. With another the Ducks would be forced to face the Yellow Jackets in a third and deciding game.
Instead of walking Yee, Coach Mike White elected to go right after her. The gamble paid off for momentarily when Yee grounded out to second base moving both runners up 60 feet.
A single up the middle drove in one and when the runner advanced to second on the throw, White opted to load the bases with one out with an intentional walk.
White then made the move of the weekend - taking out Jessica Moore and inserting Mikayla Endicott in relief. The sophomore from Roseburg struck out Hope Rush and Caitlin Jordan getting the Ducks out of the inning and sending the game into extra frames.
Oregon used that second lease on life right away when Carlyn Re singled up the middle to open the eighth inning. Shelley Deadmond came in to run and moved to second on a wild pitch. She was then sacrificed to third and Ashley Kivett hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Deadmond.
That was enough for Endicott who pitched a perfect 1-2-3 inning to slam the door on Georgia Tech.
Allie Burger led the Ducks with three hits, including a triple and Monique Fuiava managed two hits as well.
|
Ducks Swat Georgia Tech 11-2
Don Smalley
Sporting a 50-9 record Georgia Tech came into Saturday's game NCAA Regional match-up with Oregon ranked eighth in the nation and they gave quick notice of that when the Yellow Jackets jumped on Oregon starter Jessica Moore for two runs in the top of the first inning.
Sporting a 50-9 record Georgia Tech was came into Saturday's game NCAA Regional match-up with Oregon ranked eighth in the nation and they gave quick notice jumping on Oregon starting pitcher Jessica Moore for two runs in the top of the first inning.
But from there, Moore had her way with the Yellow Jacket offense and the Ducks advanced to the championship series of the Atlanta Regional with an 11-2 romp over the host team. The game was halted in the fifth inning due to the run rule.
The 2-0 deficit was quickly erased in the bottom half of the first when Kaylan Howard turned on a 2-0 changeup, knocking it over the left-center field wall for a grand slam and Oregon was ahead for good 4-2.
Moore wouldn't give up another hit, let alone another run. Moore also whiffed six and walked just one. The win was her 16th of the season and gives her and the Ducks a chance to rest while Georgia Tech and Auburn battled back through the loser's bracket of the double elimination tournament. Had Oregon lost they would have been forced to play a second game later on Saturday.
Instead Oregon watched from the sidelines as Georgia Tech eliminated Auburn and with a win in hand, Oregon has two games to beat the Yellow Jackets once in order to advance to the NCAA Super Regional.
Oregon extended its lead to 5-2 in the second inning as the Ducks began to solve Georgia Tech's 28-game winning starter Hope Rush. With two out Monique Fuiava (1-2, 2R) drove in Neena Bryant (2-3, 2RBI) with a solid single to left.
Against Auburn the night before Oregon had trouble getting runners into scoring position. Not on Saturday, the Ducks took Rush apart all afternoon. Six more hits, a couple of Yellow Jacket errors and two innings later Oregon's lead was 11-2 and the Ducks were moving into the Regional final.
Bryant three hits and two RBIs paced the Duck offense and Samantha Pappas added a pair of hits, including a two-run double in the fourth. Howard led the Ducks with five RBIs.
With a win in the regional final on Sunday, Oregon advances to the Super Regional for a Best of 3 series most likely at Missouri next weekend. |
Ducks Tame Tigers 1-0
Don Smalley
Opportunities.
It's about getting them and cashing in. Auburn had opportunities in every inning starting with the third and was unable to capitalize. Oregon had just one chance to score - in the sixth - and the Ducks plated one run and it was enough.
Oregon defeated the Tigers 1-0 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament in Atlanta on the campus of Georgia Tech. The Ducks will play the host Yellow Jackets Saturday morning at 9 am local time.
Jessica Moore was the winning pitcher capturing her 15th win of the season and Anna Thompson was the hard-luck loser for the Tigers as her record dropped to 17-10.
Moore struck out four and gave up seven hits, but didn't give up a run. She was able to get out of tight jams time and time again.
Thompson on the other hand was mowing down the Ducks. Oregon didn't get a runner to second base until the sixth, the inning the Ducks finally broke through.
Allie Burger led the sixth off with a single to the shortstop and advanced to second on a throwing error. Neena Bryant successfully sacrificed Burger to third on a good bunt. Samantha Pappas worked a walk and with runners at the corners and just one out, Kelsey Chambers chopped the ball back to the pitcher Thompson and Burger's slide was just ahead of the throw.
For as long as it took for her majestic drive to fly over the left field fence, it appeared Oregon would have a 3-0 lead when Monique Fuiava squared up on a Thompson rise ball. But it was ruled pinch-runner Cortney Kivett left first base before the pitch was thrown and she was called out to end the inning.
That mistake almost came home to roost as Auburn put runners on the corners with just one out. The Tigers are known for their small ball type of play, but Moore was able to strike out Amber Harrison to get the second out. If Moore wasn't quite yet out of the woods she was when shortstop Chambers dove into the hole to backhand a hot shot off the bat of Auburn's Katie Colton's, got up and fired a strike to first, ending the game.
Oregon was able to sneak out of trouble in the sixth as well when Auburn put runners on the corners with only one out. But the Ducks got out of that jam when Lauren Guzman lined a shot to Pappas in shallow right field. With her momentum behind her after making the catch, Pappas' throw to the plate hung the runner from third out to dry and she was tagged for the third out after a quick rundown.
Perhaps the biggest escape for the Ducks and Moore came in the fifth when Auburn had runners on first and second with two out. A chopped infield single would have loaded the bases but Auburn's Krista Clyde - anticipating the throw to first base, rounded third too far and was picked off by an alert Monique Fuiava for the third out.
In the double-elimination bracket, if Oregon wins Saturday, the Ducks automatically advance to the championship series on Sunday. If the Yellow Jackets should beat the Ducks, Oregon will play either Auburn again or Jacksonville State at 2 pm. |
Ducks Finish Home Schedule
Don Smalley
No one would fault the Duck softball team if they happened to drop three straight at No. 3 Arizona.
But Neena Bryant wouldn't let Senior Day end in a wimper as she smacked a two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th to give the Ducks the 2-1 walk-off win over the Wildcats on Saturday.
Although Arizona took two of the three games, Oregon's one win might prove crucial when the NCAA is selecting teams to the post-season tournament.
Pitcher Jessica Moore happened to get the complete-game win as she struck out 13 batters, fourth most in school history. But in the 11th, it looked like Arizona woud take the win as Lini Koria hit a line drive home run that barely cleared the left field fence.
Arizona's Kenzie Fowler was equally as impressive on the mound as she allowed just two hits in the first 10 innings of play and struck out 10. But Blair Williams led the 11th off with a single. After a failed sacrifice bunt, the stage was set for Bryant. It was her sixth homer of the year.
The Wildcats managed to take Game 1 of the series 8-3 and the series finale on Sunday 11-0.
Oregon has one more league series remaining, a three-game tilt at Stanford before the NCAA Regionals begin. |
Huskies Take Two of Three From Oregon
The defending national champion and #1 ranked Washington Huskies took two of three from the Oregon Ducks over the weekend at Howe Field. Friday's setback was the first at home for Oregon as the Ducks mostly battled toe-to-toe with their northwest rival.
Washington used a 6-run seventh inning to blow open what had up to that point been a tense 3-2 affair.
Oregon pounded out seven hits against the Huskies' All-American pitcher, Danielle Lawrie, but the Ducks stranded eight runners and squandered a number of opportunities to take an early lead.
That wasn't the case on Saturday. Oregon's Samantha Skillingstad hand-cuffed the Huskies for 6 innings and combined with Jessica Moore on a four hit shut out and Oregon used a run in the fourth and three more in the sixth to pin a 4-0 loss on the visitors.
Right fielder Samantha Pappas did most of the damage with a 2 RBI single then scored on Kelsey Chambers' single. Senior centerfielder had opened the scoring for the Ducks with a home run - the 32nd of her career.
Sunday's rubber match was a pitcher's duel - Moore and Lawrie taking turns shutting down hitters through five full before the Huskies pushed across a run on an error, a passed ball and a ground out that was deflected into left field of Moore's fielding glove.
That was all Lawrie would need and she set the side down in order in the seventh.
Oregon's record now stands at 30-8 for the season and the Ducks are in second place in the Pac-10 at 6-3.
A road test at Arizona State is up next for the Ducks who then return to Howe Field to face Portland State in a non-conference double dip on Wednesday, April 28th. |
Oregon Opens With Sweep
Rick Morgan
Oregon's softball team swept through this weekend's pair of match-ups with Boise State and North Dakota State to start their 2010 home season on the right foot.
The Ducks made quick work of the Broncos in Saturday's opening game, pounding the Boise State defense with 12 hits, nine runs and three home runs in a game that was shortened to five innings.
Freshman Jessica Moore was solid in the circle, allowing one hit and striking out nine, improving her season mark to 7-2.
The bats stayed hot in the afternoon's second contest. Senior designated player Carlyn Re belted two home runs as Oregon cruised to a 7-1 win over North Dakota State. Samantha Skillingstad worked six innings - allowing three hits while striking out 11 and walking none to pick up her fourth victory of the season
North Dakota has fewer answers in Sunday's rematch. The Ducks pounded the Fighting Sioux pitching staff for 12 runs on 13 hits - including another by Re. Brittney Rumfield picked up her fourth win of the season in the 12-0 shutout.
By comparison, Sunday's nightcap with Boise State was a nailbiter. The Broncos took a 1-0 in the top of the second. Oregon answered in the bottom of the frame, then in the fourth a two run long ball from bat of centerfielder Nina Bryant gave the Ducks a 3-1. Skillingstad was the pitcher of record , improving to 5-3 with Moore registering the save after relieving in the sixth.
With the four game sweep Oregon's record improves to 18-5. |
|
Tournament Tested Ducks
Oregon's softball team opened their spring schedule with a pair of 4-2 weekends in tournament action. First year head coach Mike White's team opened the season in Tempe, Arizona with a 4-1 win over Notre Dame in the Kajikawa Classic. After an 8-2 win over Creighton, the Ducks dropped a pair, losing to San Diego State and Texas Tech by identical 4-3 scores before closing the weekend with a 4-0 blanking of Western Michigan and 3-2 win over Cal-State Northridge.
The following weekend Oregon opened the Louisville Slugger Classic in Las Vegas with a 5-0 loss to BYU before a pair of wins over Cal-State Fullerton and Long Beach State. Indiana escaped with a 5-4 win before the Ducks closed the tourney with a 6-5 nine inning win over Illinois-Chicago and 14-5 thrashing of San Diego.
The Ducks make two more trips south for tournaments before opening the home schedule with a two game set against Boise State and North Dakota on March 13th and 14th.
|
|
|
Site Mailing List
All Duck Sports - All The Time
Stadium Publishers
PO Box 1303
Springfield, OR 97477
Phone: 541.953.5025
Email: info@ducknews.com
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
