University of Oregon
14-10
Southern Utah
4-11
Ducks Clip Thunderbirds, 10-6
03/07/08 | Softball
* A play-by-play and boxscore is available in the LINKS box to the right and a recap will be posted shortly.
LAS VEGAS - The University of Oregon softball team opened the UNLV Invitational on the right foot Friday morning with a 10-6 victory over Southern Utah.
Junior starter Melissa Rice (5-4) got the win and senior Alicia Cook came in for her third save of the year for Oregon (14-10).
Sophomore first baseman / designated player Carlyn Re enjoyed a career best 3-for-3 day at the plate, including a pair of bunts to the vacant shortstop position on a defensive rotation since UO had runners on. Re ended with two RBIs and nearly had another on a single up the middle in the second inning, but freshman designated player / first baseman Monique Fuiava was thrown out at home by the center fielder.
The Tualatin, Ore., native Re was one of four Ducks that had multiple hits with freshman second baseman Cortney Kivett (3-for-4, 1 run), sophomore center fielder Neena Bryant (3-for-4, runs, 1 home run, 2 RBI) and Fuiava (2-for-4, 1 run).
Kivett's three singles raised her season average to .390 and extended her hitting streak to a team-best 11 games.
Oregon built up a 7-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning, then weathered a four-run response by the Thunderbirds in the top of the fifth inning.
The Ducks' deciding inning offensively was initiated by a solo home run to center field by Bryant ? her third of the season. Chaput followed with a single to center field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior third baseman Joanna Gail who was safe at first on a throwing error that also scored Chaput. The next batter, senior right fielder Kayleen Hudson, was hit by a pitch, and Monique Fuiava next hammered a single down the left field line that knocked in sophomore pinch runner Hannah Barril from second base. Re then had her second successful bunt of the day to shortstop for two RBIs.
UO's runs in the fifth came after Fuiava and Re opened with singles, and Fuiava eventually scored from third base on a wild pitch. In the sixth, Bryant led off with a single off the third baseman's glove, stole second, then scored on a single by Hudson who came home on a double by Gail to right center.
On the mound for UO, Rice pitched 4 2/3 innings and struck out a season-high six, walked two, and gave up five hits, and none of her six runs allowed were earned as Duck fielders made six errors on the day. Cook came on to get the final out of the fifth inning, and then pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh inning.
In the top of the seventh, Southern Utah threatened again with a double and single with only one out, but Cook forced a groundout and strikeout to end the game.
For Southern Utah (4-11), starter Katie Kearns (0-1), gave up eight hits, struck out none and walked none in her two innings of work. She was relieved by Kristina Brooks in the top of the third inning after Byrant's and Chaput's leadoff hits, and pitched the final four innings, struck out two, walked one, gave up seven hits, and four of her six runs allowed were earned.
The Ducks return for their second and final game of the day vs. No. 20 Ohio State at 3:45 p.m. Live stats are available by clicking the small page icon in the media column on the Duck softball schedule page.
- www.GoDucks.com -
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rice, Melissa (5-4)
L: Kearns (0-1)
S: Cook, Alicia (3)
Batting:
2B: Jenson 1 ; Kennedy 1
RBI: Jenson 1 ; McBurney 1 ; DeJesus 1
SH: McBurney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: James 1 ; B. Henderson 1 ; Carli 1 ; Kennedy 2 ; McBurney 1
SB: James 1
CS: Jenson 1 ; DeJesus 1
Batting:
2B: Gail, Joanna 1 ; Kivett, Ashley 1
HR: Bryant, Neena 1
RBI: Bryant, Neena 2 ; Hudson, Kayleen 1 ; Gail, Joanna 1 ; Re, Carlyn 2 ; Kivett, Ashley 1
SH: Gail, Joanna 1 ; Kivett, Ashley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kivett, Cortney 1 ; Bryant, Neena 2 ; Chaput, Lovena 1 ; Hudson, Kayleen 2 ; Gail, Joanna 1 ; Fuiava, Monique 1 ; Barril, Hannah 1 ; Re, Carlyn 1
SB: Kivett, Cortney 1 ; Bryant, Neena 1 ; Fuiava, Monique 1 ; Barril, Hannah 1
HBP: Hudson, Kayleen 1 ; Kivett, Ashley 1
