No. 15 Ducks Romp Early, Settle for Split vs. UNLV

Thursday, March 8

Las Vegas, Nev.

5 p.m.

University of Oregon

21-2

UNLV

15-10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Oregon	3	2	0	3	0	2	10	12	4
UNLV	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	5	4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Oregon	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	6	1
UNLV	1	0	0	2	1	1	X	5	7	0

No. 15 Ducks Romp Early, Settle for Split vs. UNLV

03/09/07 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: GoDucks.com

LAS VEGAS ? The 15th-ranked University of Oregon softball team split a doubleheader with host UNLV, taking the opener 10-1 in six innings before going down 5-1 in the nightcap on the opening day of the 2007 Eller Media Stadium Classic.

Senior Ann Marie Topps clubbed her team-leading ninth home run of the year in Game 1, putting the Ducks (21-3) on top 3-0 before the Rebels' first at-bat. The blast to left-center sailed over a secondary fence at least eight feet high and 225 feet from home plate with had plenty to spare.

Oregon added two more runs in the second, a three-spot in the fourth and a pair in the sixth, invoking the run rule for the fifth time this season.

Topps later added a double to finish 2-for-4 with a season-high four RBIs. Sophomore Sari-Jane Jenkins established her season best with four hits (4-for-4), while driving in three and scoring three times. Senior leadoff hitter Suzie Barnes also scored three runs and went 3-for-4 at the dish.

Junior right-hander Alicia Cook improved to 11-1, allowing a single run on five hits. She struck out six and walked one.

The Ducks roughed up UNLV starter Stephanie Bregante (5-5), chasing the right-hander after 1.2 innings and tagging her for five runs on six hits.

Game 2 was a different story as the Rebels (16-10) chipped away at UO sophomore righty Melissa Rice (9-2), scoring four runs from the fourth through the sixth innings.

Rice, who allowed seven hits over six innings and was charged with four earned runs, pitched well aside from allowing a two-run, fourth-inning homer to Caitlyn Paus. That gave the home team some breathing room and a 3-0 lead.

UNLV tossed its ace ? right-hander Christie Robinson (7-1) ? and shored up a defense that committed as many mental errors as its four physical errors in the first game.

Robinson went the distance, scattering six hits and striking out five without a walk.

Trailing 4-0 in the sixth, Oregon appeared to start a comeback rally as pinch hitter Blair Williamson led off with a bunt single down the third base line. Barnes forced Williamson out at second on a slapper to the right side, but promptly stole second to give the Ducks a runner in scoring position with only one out.

Jenkins followed with a base hit to move Barnes to third and stole second with team RBI leader Jennifer Salling at the plate and still just one down. Salling ripped an apparent two-run single to right, but Jenkins was gunned down at the plate by Paus.

Catcher Bri Bernardi tagged Jenkins and fired a strike to the shortstop covering second base to erase Salling, who was attempting to advance on the throw in from the outfield.

Jenkins and Salling had two hits apiece to lead the Ducks. Rebel shortstop Jaci Hull had a team high two hits (2-for-4) and scored twice.

UNLV added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and the Ducks went quietly in the final frame, save for a two-out Lovena Chaput double.

Oregon continues play at the tournament on Friday, facing New Mexico State at 1:30 p.m. and Miami (Ohio) at 8:15 p.m.

QUACK TRACKS: Oregon's 1-4 hitters were a combined 10-for-14 in Game 1 with eight runs and seven RBIs ... FR PH Blair Williamson was 2-for-2 in pinch hitting appearances on the day ... The Ducks were 4-for-4 in steal attempts in the twin bill ... FR SS Jennifer Salling extended her team-high hitting streak to 13 games ... JR RHP Alicia Cook has won 11 consecutive decisions ... UNLV's five runs in Game 2 were the most by a UO opponent this season ... Oregon committed five errors in the doubleheader, including a season-high four in the 10-1 victory.