University of Oregon
27-6, 3-1
California
29-9, 1-3
#21 Ducks Claw Back For 7-6 Win Vs. #13 Bears In 9 Innings
04/10/10 | Softball
* A boxscore and play-by-play is located in the LINKS box to the right, and updated season/career stats are available via the link above.
EUGENE - Freshman Samantha Pappas launched a game-tying three-run homer in the seventh inning, and junior Monique Fuiava added a two-run double in the ninth to help the No. 21 University of Oregon softball team (27-6, 3-1) come back and top No. 13 California (29-9, 1-3) Friday evening at Howe Field.
Fuiava (4-for-5, 2 RBI) collected a career-high four hits in her final four at-bats, while Pappas (2-for-3, 3 RBI) moved into a tie for 10th all-time for UO for homers in a season with her shot off Cal starter Valerie Arioto to send the game into extra innings.
Duck sophomore Samantha Skillingstad (7-4) got the win for her 2/3 innings of relief in the top of the ninth. The Spokane, Wash., native came in with the Ducks down 6-5, the bases loaded, and one out, and coaxed a strikeout and fly-out from the Bears' eighth and ninth hitters.
Altogether, seven Ducks combined for 12 hits - their fifth double-digit tally the last six games (with the other game a nine-hit contest). Freshman left fielder Allie Burger (2-for-4, 1 RBI) notched her seventh multi-hit game of the season - third-most on the team behind Pappas (12) and Kelsey Chambers (10).
Other Ducks that hit safely included junior pinch-hitter Kailin Vitek (1-for-1), senior designated player Carlyn Re (1-for-4), senior center fielder Neena Bryant (1-for-3), and junior catcher Ashley Kivett (1-for-4, 1 RBI).
Cal reliever Jolene Henderson (12-4) took the loss after she came in with one out in the seventh after Pappas' homer, pitched the final two innings, struck out three, walked none, and both of her runs allowed were earned.
Cal took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when a runner scored from third base on passed ball, but UO tied it up in the bottom half on an RBI single by Ashley Kivett.
The Bears went back up 2-1 in the third on a hard-hit grounder to the shortstop that resulted in an error and scored a runner from third. In the bottom of the fourth, Burger re-tied matters, 2-2, with an RBI single to left field that scored Bryant who had singled with one out and advanced to second base on a wild pitch.
Cal went back ahead 5-2 in the top of the fifth when clean-up hitter Lindsey Ziegenhirt hit a two-run homer, and Vernae Sevilla added a near identical solo shot to center field two batters later.
Both Cal homers in the fifth came off junior Brittany Rumfelt - only her second and third allowed this season. The Lakeport, Calif., native entered the game in fourth inning, and ultimately got three outs, struck out one, walked one, and all three of her runs allowed were earned.
In the seventh, UO rallied behind the top of its line-up as Burger and pinch-hitter Kaitlin Vietk led off with a walk and single before Pappas' homer on an 0-1 pitch.
The entire, four-person Duck staff saw action as sophomore Mikayla Endicott pitched three scoreless innings after Rumfelt, struck out five (one shy of her season high), walked none, and gave up two hits.
Freshman Jessica Moore started the game and pitched the first 3 2/3 innings, then got two more outs in the eighth inning. The Sutter, Calif., native altogether struck out five, walked seven, scattered four hits, and only one of ther three runs allowed was earned.
UO's 21st win in the last 23 contests also kept it in a tie for first place in the Pac-10 with a 3-1 record - its best league start since 2004 when current first-year head coach Mike White was part of the Duck staff as an assistant coach.
Looking ahead, the two teams resume play for single contests again on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at noon.
LINESCORE
Oregon 7, California 6 (Apr 09, 2010 at Eugene, Ore.)
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California.......... 011 030 001 - 6 8 1
Oregon.............. 010 100 302 - 7 12 2
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Pitchers: California - Arioto, V.; Henderson,J.(7) and Ziegenhirt,L. Oregon - Moore, Jessica; Rumfelt, Brittany(5); Endicott, Mikayla(6); Skillingstad, Sam(9) and Kivett, Ashley. HR CAL - Ziegenhirt,L; Sevilla, V.. HR ORE - Pappas, Sam.
Weather: 62, sunny wind 1-5 mph
- www.GoDucks.com -
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Skillingstad, Samantha (8-4)
L: Henderson,J. (12-4)
Batting:
HR: Ziegenhirt,L 1 ; Sevilla, V. 1
RBI: Ziegenhirt,L 2 ; Sevilla, V. 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Thomas, Sh. 1 ; Arioto, V. 2 ; Ziegenhirt,L 1 ; Williams, J. 1 ; Sevilla, V. 1
SB: Thomas, Sh. 3 ; Reid, E. 1
HBP: Echavarria,F 1
PO: Echavarria,F 1
Batting:
2B: Fuiava, Monique 1
HR: Pappas, Samantha 1
RBI: Burger, Allie 1 ; Pappas, Samantha 3 ; Fuiava, Monique 2 ; Kivett, Ashley 1
SH: Deadmond, Shelley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burger, Allie 2 ; Deadmond, Shelley 1 ; Pappas, Samantha 2 ; Williamson, Blair 1 ; Bryant, Neena 1
CS: Re, Carlyn 1
HBP: Chambers, Kelsey 1
