Topps and Salling Homer But Not Enough in Loss to Huskies

Saturday, April 28

Seattle, Wash.

2 p.m.

University of Oregon

39-13, 4-10

Washington

31-13, 8-6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Oregon	1	0	0	1	2	0	0	4	6	2
Washington	2	0	1	0	2	1	X	6	8	1

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

Topps and Salling Homer But Not Enough in Loss to Huskies

04/28/07 | Softball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

SEATTLE, Wash. ? Rightfielder Lauren Greer reclaimed Washington's lead for good with a one-run single in the fifth, helping lead the 11^th-ranked Huskies to a 6-4 victory over No. 16 Oregon on Saturday afternoon at Husky Softball Stadium.

Greer was 2-for-3 on the day with three RBIs, also giving Washington its first lead of the game, 2-1, in the bottom of the first with a two-run, two-out double off the right center wall.

Oregon falls to 39-13 on the year and 4-10 in the Pacific-10 conference, while Washington improves to 31-13 and 8-6 in the conference. The Huskies also have a 2-0 advantage in the teams' series this season.

The Huskies added their final run in the sixth and could have had more with the bases loaded and two outs, but freshman Blair Williamson made a diving shoe-string catch in shallow center to end the inning.

Washington sophomore Danielle Lawrie improves to 20-8 on the year, despite allowing two runs on two hits and three walks in three innings of work after relieving starter Caitlin Noble.

Noble pitched 4.0 innings and allowed two runs on four hits. Together the duo combined for 15 strikeouts.

Sophomore Melissa Rice (21-11) took the loss for Oregon, allowing six runs, five earned on eight hits, while striking out five. With junior Alicia Cook out of the lineup for the majority of the Pac-10 season with illness, Rice has appeared in the Ducks last 18 games, dating back to an 8-0 shutout of Idaho State on March 24. The Colbert, Wash., native has started in 16 of those appearances, including Oregon's last nine games..

Oregon was led at the plate by Jenn Salling and Ann Marie Topps, who each produced home runs in the game. Senior Kristi Leiter also contributed an RBI single.

Salling finished the game 2-for-2 and was also issued two walks.

The Ducks had their second lead of the game, 4-3, in the top of the fifth after Topps made Washington pay, crushing her 18^th home run of the season, a two-run shot deep over the center field wall.

Lawrie, a member of the Canadian National team, struck out Oregon's first two batters in the fifth, before issuing Salling her second walk of the game, setting up Topps' home run.

The Costa Mesa, Calif., now has three home runs against Pac-10 competition this year and 55 RBIs on the year as a whole.

Salling gave the Ducks an early one-run advantage in the first, clearing her 12^th home run, a solo shot, over the right field wall on a full-count offering from Noble. Salling has now hit two home runs against the Huskies this season, and has four against Pac-10 competition.

Some infield singles caused problems for Oregon in the bottom of the inning. Rice was unable to field a an infield single shot back at her, and Salling picked up her third error in as many games allowing runners on first and second with one out. Rice recovered to strike out the reigning Pac-10 and National Player of the Week, Dena Tyson, but Greer took advantage with a two-out, two-run double off the wall in left center to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead.

Washington added to its lead in the third when Dominique Lastrapes' RBI ground out scored Ashley Charters from third for a 3-1 lead.

In the fourth, Oregon freshman Neena Bryant led off the inning with a single to right center and stole her 13^th base of the season to move into scoring position for Leiter. In front of family and friends, the native of Lake Stevens, Wash., connected on an RBI single through the right side to bring the Ducks within a run, 3-2.

Oregon closes out its three-game road swing tomorrow with a 1 p.m. start in Seattle.

The Ducks return to Howe Field next weekend, hosting Arizona (4 p.m., May 4) and Arizona State (1 p.m., May 5 and 6).

Oregon Director of Athletics Pat Kilkenny is expected to throw out the first pitch at Saturday's game, and the weekend will serve as the final home game for three members of the Ducks' senior class, Suzie Barnes, Kristi Leiter and Ann Marie Topps.

After Saturday's game the Oregon softball program will also host its annual award banquet. The social will start at 6 p.m. in the Mallard Banquet Hall (First Ave. and Monroe), dinner will begin at 7 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony and recognition of the 2007 senior class with a video tribute.

Those who wish to attend the annual banquet are asked to RSVP no later than April 30, 2007 by calling Marcia Montgomery at 541-346-4093. The cost is $25.00 per person and checks should be made payable to Oregon Softball.

QUACK TRACKS: With her 39^th walk of the season, freshman Jenn Salling broke Oregon's all-time single season record previously set by Katie Mackey in 1999 with 38...Sari-Jane Jenkins' 65 hits this season rank ninth in single-season history.