Ducks Douse Flames in 9-inning Thriller

Sunday, February 21

Las Vegas, Nev.

9:00 AM

University of Oregon

7-4

Illinois-Chicago

4-6

Illinois-Chicago

Oregon

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

02/21/10 | Softball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

* A boxscore and play-by-play is available in the LINKS box to the right, and updated season stats are available via the link above.

LAS VEGAS – The Oregon softball team (7-4) staged one of its most dramatic wins in recent memory with its nine-inning 6-5 win over Illinois-Chicago (4-6) in Sunday's opener in fourth and final day action in the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic at Stephanie Lynn Craig Field.

The back-and-forth contest saw UIC ding Duck pitchers for three runs in the first inning and knock Duck starter Samantha Skillingstad from the game. After the first five batters reached against the returning Duck ace, freshman Jessica Moore came in and pitched the rest of the way, and in her nine innings allowed only a pair of unearned runs in the top of the seventh. Altogether, she struck out nine in her longest stint of the season, walked only one, and neither of her runs allowed were earned.

Heading into the bottom of the seventh and final regulation inning, UO faced a 5-4 deficit, and things didn't look any more promising after Oregon's third and fourth hitters in the lineup flied out. After getting behind in the count 0-2, sophomore infielder Kelsey Chambers battled back with three fouls and two balls, then drove her second homer of the season over the right center field fence to tie the game, 5-5.

After both teams failed to score in the eighth inning, UIC threatened to go back ahead in the ninth. The runner placed on second base by virtue of the NCAA extra-inning rule tried to score on a two-out single up the middle, but Duck senior centerfielder Neena Bryant's one-hop strike home barely beat the runner who was tagged out by junior catcher Ashley Kivett to end the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, freshman left fielder Allie Burger was placed on second base and was still there three batters later after a foul out and strikeout. An intentional walk to Pappas, who had homered and singled in the third and first innings, was followed by a 2-2 double to right center field by junior first baseman Monique Fuiava. The Duck faithful had plenty to cheer about after the transplant Las Vegas native endured a 10-pitch at-bat that featured five straight foul balls before the game-winner.

The two teams' emotions were markedly contrast early as UIC scored three runs to start the game thanks to an opening double, hit by pitch, pair of singles and a walk. With two runs on the board the bases loaded and no out, Moore came in and allowed another run to score on a wild pitch, then got three straight outs outs on a fielder's choice ground-out, a strikeout swinging, and a leaping catch on a liner by second baseman Kaylan Howard.

The Riverside, Calif., native Howard made another gold glove effort for the first out in the fifth inning when she fully dove to her right on a hard hit grounder up the middle, then turned and fired from the ground for the close out at first.

Oregon started its comeback in the third inning when Bryant banged a one-out single to right field, and freshman right fielder Samantha Pappas followed with her team-leading fifth homer of the season to right center field.

Moore tied matters 3-3 in the fourth inning, hitting the first pitch over the right centerfield wall for her first collegiate homer – the ninth Duck to go long this year (and the same number as all of last year).

Oregon added another run in the fifth and went up 4-3 when Bryant opened with a double to left field, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on Kelsey Chambers sacrifice fly.

However, UIC would not go quietly, and in the seventh, the opening hitter reached via error, advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a drive off the right centerfield wall that resulted in only a single for DP Ashley Hewett. Another single and infield error loaded the bases, and a four-pitch walk forced in another run. However, the next batter hit a high chopper just in front of home plate, and Ashley Kivett grabbed the ball and stepped on home plate for the inning-ending force-out.

At game's end for UIC, five hitters hit safely, and three had multiple hits – Melinda Macias (2-for-5, 1 run), Ashley Hewett (2-for-5, 2 runs, 1 RBI) and Shannon Kehr (3-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 walk).

UIC starting pitcher Devin Miller worked the first four innings, struck out four, walked one, gave up six hits, and all three of her runs allowed were earned. Whitney Orellana pitched the next 1.2 innings, had no strikeouts and one walk, gave up two hits, and her one run allowed was earned. Ashley Hewett (2-4) took the loss after yielding Fuiava's double, struck out three, walked one, allowed two hits, and one of her two runs was earned.

Looking ahead, UO finishes up action in the tournament immediately after on Sunday against San Diego at 11:15 a.m. on the same field.

LINESCORE

Oregon 6, Illinois-Chicago 5 (Feb 21, 2010 at Las Vegas, Nev.)
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Illinois-Chicago.... 300 000 200 - 5 9 1 (4-6)
Oregon.............. 002 110 101 - 6 10 4 (7-4)
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Pitchers: Illinois-Chicago - Devin Miller; Whitney Orellana(5); Ashley Hewett(6) and
Stephanie Chavez. Oregon - Skillingstad, Sam; Moore, Jessica(1) and Kivett, Ashley.
Win-Moore, Jessica(3-1) Loss-Ashley Hewett(2-4) T-2:40 A-350
HR ORE - Pappas, Sam; Chambers, Kelsey; Moore, Jessica.
Weather: 52, mostly sunny, wind 0-3 mph
Skillingstad faced 5 batters in the 1st.