University of Oregon
9-4
Utah
7-4
Ducks Down Utes, 4-2
02/26/10 | Softball
*A boxscore and play-by-play is available in the LINKS box to the right.
PALM SPRINGS - The University of Oregon softball team (9-4) beat Utah (7-4) by a 4-0 score in Cathedral City Classic opening action day action Thursday at Big League Dreams Park.
The Utes got out to a 2-0 lead with runs in the first and second innings, but UO answered with single runs in the second and third innings to tie the game, then went ahead for good on a two-run double by senior designated player Blair Williamson to center field.
On the mound, sophomore Samantha Skillingstad (2-3) matched her career high in strikeouts (10) - the 10th-best total in school history - for the second time this season and fourth time in her career. The Spokane, Wash., native walked two, allowed six hits, and only one of her runs allowed were earned.
Oregon's first run came in the second inning as freshman second baseman Kaylan Howard launched a 1-0 pitch just inside the left field foul pole for her third homer of the season.
In the third inning, senior center fielder Neena Bryant reached on an infield error and came around to score the next pitch when freshman right fielder Samantha Pappas doubled down the right field line.
Pappas extended her season-high hitting streak to 11 games and went 2-for-3 and scored a run. Williamson (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and freshman left fielder Allie Burger (2-for-3, 1 run) also banged out multiple hits, and Howard (1-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI) and junior third baseman Cortney Kivett (1-for-3, 1 run) hit safely.
Utah took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when the leadoff hitter Brooke Olson reached on an infield error, stole second base, advanced to third on a fly-out, then scored on a two-out infield single.
The Utes' second run came after a one-out single by Tori Medina. She advanced to second base on a passed ball, then scored on a single to left field by Kelsi Hoopiiaina.
For the game, four Utah batters hit safely - Olson (1-for-4, 1 run), Kara Foster (2-for-3, 1 RBI), Medina (1-for-3) and Hoopiiaina (2-for-3). Ute starter Ashley Smuda suffered her first loss of the year (2-1), struck out three, walked three, and all four of her runs allowed were earned.
The Ducks come back and have one more game Thursday night against No. 19 Texas A&M (10-2). The Aggies lost their tourney opener earlier in the afternoon, 4-0, to Fordham.
LINESCORE
Oregon 4, Utah 2 (Feb 25, 2010 at Palm Springs, Calif.)
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Utah................ 110 000 0 - 2 6 2 (7-4)
Oregon.............. 011 200 X - 4 8 1 (9-4)
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Pitchers: Utah - SMUDA, Ashley and OLSON, Brooke. Oregon - Skillingstad, Sam and Kivett, Ashley.
Win-Skillingstad, Sam(2-3) Loss-SMUDA, Ashley(2-1) T-200 A-350
HR ORE - Howard, Kaylan.
Weather: 75, sunny, wind 0-3 mph
- www.GoDucks.com -
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Skillingstad, Samantha (2-3)
L: SMUDA, Ashley (2-1)
Batting:
2B: HOOPIIAINA, Kelsi 1
RBI: FOSTER, Kara 1 ; HOOPIIAINA, Kelsi 1
Base Running:
RUNS: OLSON, Brooke 1 ; PALMER, Lindsey 1
SB: OLSON, Brooke 1 ; FOSTER, Kara 1
CS: HOOPIIAINA, Kelsi 1
Batting:
2B: Williamson, Blair 1 ; Pappas, Samantha 1
HR: Howard, Kaylan 1
RBI: Williamson, Blair 2 ; Chambers, Kelsey 1 ; Howard, Kaylan 1
SH: Chambers, Kelsey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pappas, Samantha 1 ; Howard, Kaylan 1 ; Kivett, Cortney 1 ; Burger, Allie 1
CS: Williamson, Blair 1
