Sunday, May 6
Eugene, OR
4:00 PM
University of Oregon
44-7, 18-3
8
vs
1
Utah
20-28, 2-19
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Utah
0
0
0
1
0
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1
9
1
Oregon
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X
8
6
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Photo by: Samuel Marshall/Eric Evans Photography
Seniors Command Center Stage in Home Finale
05/06/18 | Softball
Oregon's senior class led the way in an 8-1 victory Sunday over Utah, keeping the Ducks atop the Pac-12 Conference.
EUGENE, Ore. — The second-ranked Oregon softball team's seniors closed out their final regular season at Jane Sanders Stadium in grand fashion Sunday, and the Ducks kept themselves in the driver's seat for the Pac-12 title with an 8-1 victory over Utah to compete a series sweep before a sellout crowd of 2,522 fans.
Seniors Lauren Lindvall and Gwen Svekis combined for four hits and six RBIs to help Oregon finish the regular season with a 19-1 record at The Jane. The only loss was to No. 1 UCLA, the team tied with the Ducks atop the conference standings entering the final week of play.
"The seniors made it Senior Day," UO coach Mike White said. "They did an awesome job leading the team. It was fantastic."
How It Happened: The Ducks (44-7, 18-3 Pac-12) broke the game open in the second inning when Lindvall drove a double to left-center with the bases loaded, plating all three runners for a 3-0 lead. Svekis made it 5-0 in the fourth when she followed a single by senior DJ Sanders with a home run to dead center.
The Utes (20-28, 2-19) got a run back in the fourth with an RBI single by Ally Dickman. But with two on and one out, UO starter Megan Kleist (19-5) struck out the next two hitters to end the threat. Kleist allowed six hits and struck out six with no walks over five innings.
The Ducks added on in the fifth. Lindvall singled to score Shannon Rhodes, and Haley Cruse followed with a hot shot that got past the second baseman to bring in two more.
Leading the Pac: UCLA defeated Cal earlier in the day, leaving the Ducks and Bruins tied atop the conference standings at 18-3.
"I think we're in a good place," UO senior third baseman Jenna Lilley said. "We've been playing some good softball."
UCLA closes out the regular season at home against No. 8 Arizona State. The Ducks open their three-game series at Cal on Thursday.
"That's what you want — you want to be in control of your destiny," White said. "It's all in front of us."
Balint's Emotional Return: Sophomore pitcher Maggie Balint made just her second appearance in the circle since early April on Sunday, replacing Kleist for the start of the sixth inning. Oregon fans arose for a standing ovation when they saw her walk to the circle.
"We were looking for an extra 2 mph from her," White said. "I think she got it from the crowd."
Svekis predicted Balint "will be a huge factor for us going forward" as the rigors of postseason play approach. Svekis said she had been in "hysterics" during the pregame ceremony honoring her senior class, and had some of those feelings rekindled when Balint entered.
"That was the most emotional I got during the game," Svekis said. "Everything else, I got out before."
Up Next: The Ducks face the Golden Bears on Thursday and Friday at 3 p.m., then Saturday at noon, with the series to be televised by Pac-12 Networks.
Seniors Lauren Lindvall and Gwen Svekis combined for four hits and six RBIs to help Oregon finish the regular season with a 19-1 record at The Jane. The only loss was to No. 1 UCLA, the team tied with the Ducks atop the conference standings entering the final week of play.
"The seniors made it Senior Day," UO coach Mike White said. "They did an awesome job leading the team. It was fantastic."
How It Happened: The Ducks (44-7, 18-3 Pac-12) broke the game open in the second inning when Lindvall drove a double to left-center with the bases loaded, plating all three runners for a 3-0 lead. Svekis made it 5-0 in the fourth when she followed a single by senior DJ Sanders with a home run to dead center.
The Utes (20-28, 2-19) got a run back in the fourth with an RBI single by Ally Dickman. But with two on and one out, UO starter Megan Kleist (19-5) struck out the next two hitters to end the threat. Kleist allowed six hits and struck out six with no walks over five innings.
The Ducks added on in the fifth. Lindvall singled to score Shannon Rhodes, and Haley Cruse followed with a hot shot that got past the second baseman to bring in two more.
Leading the Pac: UCLA defeated Cal earlier in the day, leaving the Ducks and Bruins tied atop the conference standings at 18-3.
"I think we're in a good place," UO senior third baseman Jenna Lilley said. "We've been playing some good softball."
UCLA closes out the regular season at home against No. 8 Arizona State. The Ducks open their three-game series at Cal on Thursday.
"That's what you want — you want to be in control of your destiny," White said. "It's all in front of us."
Balint's Emotional Return: Sophomore pitcher Maggie Balint made just her second appearance in the circle since early April on Sunday, replacing Kleist for the start of the sixth inning. Oregon fans arose for a standing ovation when they saw her walk to the circle.
"We were looking for an extra 2 mph from her," White said. "I think she got it from the crowd."
Svekis predicted Balint "will be a huge factor for us going forward" as the rigors of postseason play approach. Svekis said she had been in "hysterics" during the pregame ceremony honoring her senior class, and had some of those feelings rekindled when Balint entered.
"That was the most emotional I got during the game," Svekis said. "Everything else, I got out before."
Up Next: The Ducks face the Golden Bears on Thursday and Friday at 3 p.m., then Saturday at noon, with the series to be televised by Pac-12 Networks.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kleist, Megan (19-5)
L: Hailey Hilburn (5-7)
Batting:
RBI: Ally Dickman 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kelly Martinez 1
Batting:
2B: Lindvall, Lauren 1
HR: Svekis, Gwen 1
RBI: Svekis, Gwen 2 ; Lindvall, Lauren 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Sanders, DJ 1 ; Svekis, Gwen 1 ; Rhodes, Shannon 2 ; Iakopo, Mary 2 ; Camuso, Mia 1 ; Lindvall, Lauren 1
SB: Cruse, Haley 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
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