University of Oregon
32-15, 7-9
Arizona
41-8, 11-5
No. 3 Wildcats Capitalize on Errors En Route to 8-3 Win
05/08/10 | Softball
* A boxscore and play-by-play are located in the LINKS box to the right, updated stats are available via the link above.
EUGENE - In their series opener Friday night, the No. 19 University of Oregon softball team (32-15, 7-9) was deadlocked, 1-1, with No. 3 Arizona (41-8, 11-5) until six unearned runs in the sixth led to a 8-3 Wildcat victory.
Trying to end a two-game losing streak in Eugene, the eight-time national champions scored the game's first run in the second inning on an RBI single, and the Ducks answered with a run in the fourth.
UO loaded the bases thanks to a single by senior centerfielder Neena Bryant - UO's first hit of the game - and walks by freshman right fielder Samantha Pappas and sophomore shortstop Kelsey Chambers.
Junior first baseman Monique Fuiava followed with a lined shot to the shortstop who tried to double the runner off first base who hadn't tagged, but the throw went wide and allowed Bryant to score. A strikeout and ground-out to third base, however, ended the inning.
The nation's leading offense didn't score again until the sixth when several UO miscues allowed the Wildcats to send 12 batters to the plate.
After a dropped foul fly ball led to a walk to the opening hitter, the next batter laid down a sacrifice bunt but reached safely when the throw tipped off the first baseman's glove. The next hitter struck out for what should have been the third out of the inning, but the next seven hitters reached via a double, two singles, three walks, and a fielder's choice combined with another infield error – and all still with one out.
Junior Samantha Skillingstad relieved and finally got the last two outs of the inning on a strikeout and line-out, but UA had taken an 8-1 lead at that point.
In the seventh inning, the Duck hitters came alive to touch reliever Sarah Akiamine for four hits, a walk, and two unearned runs. Freshman starter Kenzie Fowler (30-5) was brought back in and got the final out via strikeout. In her 6.1 combined innings, she struck out 11, walked five, and allowed one hit and one run that was unearned.
Oregon sophomore Mikayla Endicott made her second start of the season (and first in league play), and struck out six, walked five, gave up seven hits, and only one of her seven runs allowed were earned.
Junior Brittany Rumfelt also retired five outs in the fourth and fifth innings, struck out none, walked one, gave up one hit and no runs.
At the plate for UO, five Ducks hit safely - junior catcher Ashley Kivett (1-for-4), Bryant (1-for-2), Chambers (1-for-3), freshman second baseman Kaylan Howard (1-for-3) and senior pinch-hitter Blair Williamson (1-for-1, double, 1 RBI).
Pappas also picked up her team-leading 46th RBI of the season on her seventh-inning sacrifice fly and is now tied for fourth-most in a season for Oregon with Bryant who had the same total in both 2007 and '08.
At the plate for Arizona, the first six batters in the lineup all hit safely, and three had two hits - Lauren Schutzler (2-for-5, K'Lee Arredondo (2-for-5) and Lini Koria (2-for-4).
Looking ahead, the two teams return to action Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest, while Sunday's 11 a.m. series finale will be preceded by a Senior Day recognition ceremony for the Ducks' five-member senior class that will make their final appearance at Howe Field.
Promotion-wise Saturday, youth that wear Kidsports shirts get in free, and Sunday's Senior Day is Mother's Day, and mothers get in free.
Duck fans should note that Sunday's 11 a.m. start time is an hour earlier than originally scheduled.
LINESCORE
#3 Arizona 8, #19 Oregon 3 (May 07, 2010 at Eugene, Ore.)
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Arizona............. 010 007 0 - 8 9 2 (41-8, 11-5 Pac-10)
Oregon.............. 000 100 2 - 3 5 4 (32-15, 7-9 Pac-10)
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Pitchers: Arizona - Fowler, Kenzie; Akamine, Sarah(7) and Chambers, Stacie. Oregon - Endicott, Mikayla; Rumfelt, Brittany(4); Skillingstad, Sam(6) and Kivett, Ashley. Win-Fowler, Kenzie(30-5) Loss-Endicott, Mikayla(3-1) T-2:58 A-563. Weather: 56, cloudy, wind 0-3 mph. Endicott, M faced 1 batter in the 4th.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fowler, Kenzie (30-5)
L: Endicott, Mikayla (3-1)
Batting:
2B: Del Ponte, Brigette 1 ; Koria, Lini 2
RBI: Schutzler, Lauren 1 ; Arredondo, K'Lee 1 ; Chambers, Stacie 1 ; Del Ponte, Brigette 2
SH: Del Ponte, Brigette 1 ; Arriola, Kristen 1 ; Buchanan, Karissa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Schutzler, Lauren 1 ; Arredondo, K'Lee 1 ; Chambers, Stacie 1 ; Del Ponte, Brigette 1 ; Koria, Lini 2 ; Arriola, Kristen 1 ; Buchanan, Karissa 1
Batting:
2B: Williamson, Blair 1
RBI: Pappas, Samantha 1 ; Williamson, Blair 1
SF: Pappas, Samantha 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bryant, Neena 1 ; Howard, Kaylan 1 ; Williamson, Blair 1
SB: Bryant, Neena 1
