Cook Blanks Huskies 3-0 on Senior Day

Saturday, May 10

Eugene, Ore.

1:30 p.m.

University of Oregon

33-27, 5-16

Washington

28-23-1, 7-14

Washington

Oregon

05/10/08 | Softball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

* A boxscore and play-by-play is located in the LINKS box to the right.

EUGENE ? In Saturday's softball regular season finale, senior Alicia Cook helped write a nearly perfect Senior Day script with her four-hit shutout to lift the EUGENE ? In Saturday's softball regular season finale, senior Alicia Cook helped write a nearly perfect Senior Day script with her four-hit shutout to lift the University of Oregon over Washington, 3-0, at Howe Field.

In her third straight day as a starter, the Elmira, Ore., native (16-12) pitched her fifth shutout of the season, and struck out four, walked one and allowed only four hits.

“I couldn't have asked for a better final home game,” Cook said. “We were so pumped up this morning, and really ready to pull together. It was so exciting as the defense kept making spectacular play after spectacular play. I will remember this game for a long time, especially since it was in front of so many of our family, friends and fans.”

Oregon (33-27, 5-16) scored single runs in the first, third and fourth innings to beat its fourth different opponent in the nation's top softball league, the Pac-10. Cook was awarded each conference victory, and enjoyed her fifth win over a top-25 team this year.

Another graduating Duck, third baseman Joanna Gail, was equally vital in the win at the plate and in the field.

The Poway, Calif., native stroked a double to left field in the first inning, then added another RBI double in the third inning that scored junior Sari-Jane Jenkins who led off the inning with a walk. In the fifth inning, Gail reached again on a walk to go 2-for-2 with an RBI.

Two innings before in the first, sophomore Neena Bryant knocked in UO's first run on a lined single down the right field line that scored Jenkins from second. The Salem, Ore., native Jenkins walked to open the game and then stole second.

UO's last run came in the fourth inning. After consecutive walks to start the inning, freshman Cortney Kivett bounced a 2-2 pitch up the middle for the last run of the game.

A season high 468 fans also cheered on the Duck defense that helped force the UW (28-23-1, 7-14) to leave runners on third base in the first, second and third innings - and with only one out in those first two situations.

In the first inning, after a leadoff double by Bailey Stenson and a sacrifice put her on third with one out, Cook retired the next two batters on infield outs, the latter of which was a rocket to the left of Gail who made a spectacular diving catch to her left. In the second, Cook forced an infield pop fly and added a strikeout to end the inning, while Chaput gloved a liner in the third to close out the inning.

From the fourth inning on, Cook retired 12 of the next 13 batters with the only runner reaching on an infield single. In the seventh inning, UW's leadoff hitter Jace Williams lined a sinking shot into right field, but senior Kayleen Hudson charged in made a diving catch to her right to save the extra base hit.

“I'm so proud of how the team came out and played with so much heart,” Oregon head coach Kathy Arendsen said. “We hadn't lost a senior day game in a while, and our players showed they weren't ready to start, so this makes it four in a row. This all-around effort showed the special commitment head each player has for each other. To have the seniors make those key defensive plays, it means even more. I hadn't asked Alicia to pitch three straight days before today this season, but she was ready to give it her all for the team. She showed how amazing a player she is.”

On the mound for UW, starter Aleah Macon (16-15) pitched the first four innings, and struck out six, walked three and all three of her runs allowed were earned. Caitlin Noble pitched final two innings, gave up one hit, struck out two and walked one.

At the plate, three UW hit safely, and Marnie Koziol had a team high two hits (2-for-2).

A two-hour broadcast of Saturday's game will be replayed on Fox Sports Northwest at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, and again on Monday at 1 p.m.

Looking ahead, the Ducks await to hear their postseason fate Sunday on the NCAA Tournament selection show, televised by ESPN-U at 7 p.m. Sunday night West Coast Time.

QUICK QUACKS: Alicia Cook was the winning pitcher in all five of UO's Pac-10 wins in '08 (3-2, 3-1 over No. 8 and returning national champion Arizona; 4-1 over No. 22 California; 2-1 at Oregon State; and 3-0 over No. 24 Washington). ... Cook also defeated another top-25 team earlier in the year, No. 6 Oklahoma (1-0) in Palm Springs. ... Cook's 16th win of the season was only one shy of 10th-most all-time for UO (17), and she already ranked fourth with last year's total (23). ... Her four strikeouts Saturday gave her 150 this year ? seventh all-time and three behind sixth. ... Cook's all-time Duck career rankings follow ? Games (#6, 119), Wins (#4, 55), Complete Games (7th, 57); Shutouts (#4, 20); Innings (#7, 561.1), Strikeouts (#4, 426), ERA (#10, 2.32). ... Sari-Jane Jenkins's 29th steal of the season added another to her school record tally ? now 77 and five ahead of former great Kim Manning (72). ... Jenkins drew her team-leading 32nd walk of the season to move into a tie for fifth all-time. ... Jenkins' 36th run of the season ties her for eighth all-time in a career (92) with former teammate Beth Boskovich. ... Jenkins' 50th hit of the season gives her 182 in a career and ties her for 10th all-time. ... Neena Bryant's stolen base gives UO three of its top seven season marks in school history, thanks to Courtney Kivett (fourth, 33), Jenkins (fifth, 29) and Bryant (seventh-tie, 22). ... Bryant's 45th RBI of the campaign was her third the past three games and ties her for seventh all-time in a season for UO, and 91 in a career and only one shy of 10th all-time for UO. ... Bryant's team-leading 62nd hit of the year was only four away from UO's top-10 list (10th is 66), and Courtney Kivett wasn't far behind (56). ... Joanna Gail's two doubles tied a team season game high (with Blair Williamson and Ashley Kivett) and gave her 11 altogether this season ? a team best that pushed her past Bryant (10). ... Gail's 11 doubles this season and 26 career-wise left her only one and two away from 10th all-time in a season (12) and career (28), respectively. ... Senior Amie Morris started her 111th game of the season and was immediately substituted for by Ashley Kivett since Morris had a broken bone in her throwing hand finger three weeks ago. ... With Saturday's outcome UW won the season series, 2-1, and the Huskies own a 14-41 all-time mark vs. the Ducks.

LINESCORE

Oregon 3, Washington 0 (May 10, 2008 at Eugene, Ore.)
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Washington.......... 000 000 0 - 0 4 1 (28-23-1, 7-14 Pac-10)
Oregon.............. 101 100 X - 3 6 1 (33-27, 5-16 Pac-10)
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Pitchers: Washington - Macon; Noble(5). Oregon - Cook, Alicia.
Win-Cook, Alicia(16-12) Loss-Macon(16-15) T-1:48 A-468
Weather: 55, cloudy, wind 2-4 mph