Elish Blanks Fresno State in 8-0 Win

Friday, February 9

Tempe, AZ

8:00 AM

University of Oregon

2-0

Fresno State

0-1

Fresno State

Oregon

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

02/09/18 | Softball

Box Score

Miranda Elish pitched a gem and both Shannon Rhodes and Gwen Svekis homered for the second straight game as the No. 3 Ducks run-ruled Fresno State, 8-0, in five innings

By: Nate Krueger

TEMPE, Ariz. - Sophomore Miranda Elish pitched a gem and was backed by eight runs on 10 hits on Friday morning as the Oregon softball team run-ruled Fresno State, 8-0, in five innings at Farrington Stadium.

The third-ranked Ducks (2-0) run-ruled the Bulldogs after opening their season with an 8-3 win over No. 25 Georgia on Thursday, and will face Cal State Northridge at 1 p.m. PT on Friday as they continue their weekend at the Kajikawa Classic.

How it Happened: Freshman Shaye Bowden, an Arizona native, gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead in the second inning with an RBI single to left. Alexis Mack followed with an RBI infield single to make it 2-0.

Shannon Rhodes and Gwen Svekis, who both homered Thursday to lead Oregon past Georgia, hit back-to-back home runs in the third to push the Ducks' lead to 5-0. Rhodes blasted a slicing two-run shot to right-center field, and Svekis followed with a solo homer over the scoreboard in left field.

Freshman Mary Iakopo ripped a double in the fifth inning, her second of the game, to drive in a run and make it 6-0, and senior Lauren Lindvall singled up the middle with the bases loaded to score a pair and walk Oregon off with the run-rule victory.

Oregon's offense provided more than enough support for Elish (1-0), who was stellar in her sophomore debut. The Crown Point, Ind., native blanked the Bulldogs (0-1) over five innings while allowing just one hit with nine strikeouts.

Ducks are 2-0 to start 2018. Here are some of the top highlights from Oregon's 8-0 run-rule win over Fresno State #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/9oAJJYGMEg
— Oregon Softball (@OregonSB) February 9, 2018

At the Plate: Iakopo went 3-for-3 with two doubles to lead the Ducks, while Rhodes and Svekis both homered for the second time in as many games to anchor the middle of the order. Lindvall was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs on the walk-off winner, Bowden finished 1-for-2 with an RBI in her first collegiate start and Mack went 2-for-3 while driving in one. In their first two games, the Ducks have drawn 10 walks while striking out just three times.

In the Circle: Elish did not surrender a hit after giving up a single in the first inning, and she walked just one while racking up nine strikeouts. Elish had multiple strikeouts in every inning except the fifth.

Up Next: The Ducks will move over to the Tempe Sports Complex to take on CSUN at 1 p.m. PT.