Rice, Ducks Beat Up James Madison, 7-2

Sunday, March 2

San Diego, Calif.

9 a.m.

University of Oregon

13-8

James Madison

7-4

James Madison

Oregon

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

03/02/08 | Softball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

SAN DIEGO ? The University of Oregon softball team improved to 3-1 at the San Diego Classic, cruising to a 7-2 victory over James Madison its first of two games on Sunday.

Melissa Rice (4-4) twirled a two-hit gem over seven complete, walking three and striking out five while not allowing an earned run. It was the sophomore right-hander's third win of the road trip against one loss.

Oregon (13-8) received excellent production from the top of the order as the 1-2-3 hitters combined to go 6-for-11 with three RBIs and five runs scored. Leadoff batter Cortney Kivett was 2-for-4, Sari-Jane Jenkins was 2-for-3 and Neena Bryant was 2-for-4 with three stolen bases.

JMU (7-4) finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth, plating a pair of unearned runs, cutting the UO lead to the game's final margin of five.

Rice lost a no-hitter in the fifth inning on a base hit dunked into left by Meredith Felts. Shannon Moxey's double in the sixth was the only other hit for JMU.

Oregon added to its lead in the fourth on a two-run triple by Sari-Jane Jenkins. Down in the count 0-2, the sophomore slapper extended on an outside pitch, driving it to left center to bring home Ashley and Cortney Kivett, who had reached on a walk and a single, respectively, to open the inning.

With Bryant at the plate, Jenkins came home on a wild pitch to make the score 7-0 in favor of UO.

Rice got some help from the UO defense in the top of the third as Joanna Gail backhanded a hard-hit grounder and started a pretty 5-4-3 double play.

The Ducks batted around in the bottom of the first, scoring four times on two hits, a walk and three infield errors by JMU. Bryant had an RBI single and Lovena Chaput executed a perfect squeeze bunt to drive in Jenkins from third.

Oregon wraps up play in the tourney against host San Diego State at 11:30 a.m.

QUACK TRACKS: Cortney Kivett extended her hitting streak to eight games with a first-inning single ... Oregon is 4-1 on the current road trip, including Thursday's win over the University of San Diego.