Late Rally Lifts No. 1 Tide Over No. 14 Ducks, 5-1

Tuesday, March 13

Eugene, Ore.

5:00 PM

University of Oregon

18-4

Alabama

22-0

Alabama

Oregon

Late Rally Lifts No. 1 Tide Over No. 14 Ducks, 5-1

03/14/12 | Softball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

EUGENE - A four-run sixth inning meant the difference between No. 1 Alabama (22-0) and No. 14 Oregon (18-4) in the Ducks' softball home opener Tuesday evening at Howe Field.

Neither the Ducks - riding a season-high nine-game win streak - or the unbeaten Tide clicked much offensively as the two teams ended with only three and four hits, respectively.

"It's a game of inches, and we battled to the end," Oregon head coach Mike White said. "We hit the ball hard. It was certainly closer than the final score. It was great for us to see a team that has good speed, power and pitching, and will help prepare us for the Pac-12 season."

In the circle for UO, junior Jessica Moore (12-4) tied her career high in strikeouts (14) with the third-best mark in school history, and five better than her previous season high.

The returning All-Pac-12 pitcher held the returning World Series advancers to only one hit the first five innings, albeit a Cassie Reilly-Boccia solo homer that barely cleared the left field wall in the fourth inning with one out.

In the bottom of the fifth, UO freshman pinch-hitter Hannah Melick re-tied the game, 1-1, thanks to a two-out, 3-2 single up the middle that scored sophomore Kaylan Howard.

Howard had reached on a throwing error by the third baseman on an infield smash, and advanced to second on an infield ground-out.

The Tide answered with the game's deciding runs in the sixth inning - two of which were unearned.

With one out, All-America outfielder and Eugene native Kayla Braud started the rally with a double to right center field, and advanced to third on an infield rocket that glanced off third baseman Courtney's Ceo glove as she lunged towards the shortstop.

Moore intentionally walked Reilly-Boccia to load the bases, and Traina walked on a slightly high 3-2 pitch for the team's second run.

The next batter, Kaila Hunt, lined a two-out single to left field, and after the the ball slipped under the left fielder's glove, three more runs scored. Moore bounced back to strike out the next batter and end the inning.

UO sent the tying run to the plate in the seventh after it loaded the bases on singles by sophomores Kailee Cuico and Alexa Peterson, and a two-out 3-2 walk to senior Christie Nieto. However, 'Bama starter Jackie Traina ended the contest with a 2-2 swinging strikeout of Melick.

Traina (13-0) also staked a complete game, struck out 10, walked two, allowed three hits, and her one run allowed was unearned.

At the plate, four batters hit safely once for Alabama who entered the game ranked seventh nationally in hitting with a .359 team average.

"Jess had one of her best games," White said. "She had control of her pitches, and the few that they took advantage of won't happen at the end of the year. Hannah has been doing a good job for us off the bench, and gave us another big lift with that pinch-hit RBI."

Looking ahead, UO returns to action for its Pac-12 opener at Oregon State next Saturday, March 24 at 3 p.m. The two teams play again once on both Sunday and Monday.

LINESCORE

#1 Alabama 5, #14 Oregon 1 (Mar 13, 2012 at Eugene, Ore.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
#1 Alabama......... 000 104 0 - 5 4 1 (22-0)
#14 Oregon......... 000 010 0 - 1 3 1 (18-4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Alabama - Traina and Dawson. Oregon - Moore, Jessica and Peterson, Alexa. Win-Traina(13-0) Loss-Moore, Jessica(12-4) T-2:12 A-600. HR ALA - Boccia. Weather: 55, cloudy, wind 0-3 mph

BOXSCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

#1 Alabama at #14 Oregon
Mar 13, 2012 at Eugene, Ore. (Howe Field)

Alabama 5 (22-0)
Player	ab	r	h	rbi	bb	so	po	a	lob
Braud lf	3	1	1	0	1	1	0	0	0
Fenton cf	3	1	1	0	0	0	2	1	0
Boccia 1b	2	1	1	1	1	1	3	0	0
Davis pr	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Traina p	2	0	0	1	1	2	0	1	1
Locke dp	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hunt ss	3	0	1	1	0	1	2	1	0
Lunceford rf	3	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	1
Branham 2b	3	0	0	0	0	3	2	0	0
Conley 3b	2	0	0	0	0	2	1	2	0
Sewell ph	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Dawson c/pr	0	1	0	0	0	0	10	0	0
Totals	25	5	4	3	3	14	21	5	2

Oregon 1 (18-4)
Player	ab	r	h	rbi	bb	so	po	a	lob
Ceo, Courtney 3b	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
Takeda, Janie cf	3	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0
Chambers, Kelsey ss	3	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
Cuico, Kailee 1b	3	0	1	0	0	1	5	0	0
Howard, Kaylan 2b	3	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0
Pappas, Samantha rf/lf	3	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
Peterson, Alexa c	3	0	1	0	0	1	15	0	0
Goodrum, Sara pr	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nieto, Christie dp/rf	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
Burger, Allie lf	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Melick, Hannah ph/dp	2	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	3
Moore, Jessica p	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Totals	24	1	3	1	2	10	21	5	5

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Alabama............. 000 104 0 -  5  4  1
Oregon.............. 000 010 0 -  1  3  1
-----------------------------------------

E - Conley; Pappas, S. LOB - Alabama 2; Oregon 5. 2B - Braud. HR - Boccia. HBP - Nieto, C. SB - Braud.

Alabama	ip	h	r	er	bb	so	wp	bk	hbp	ibb	ab	bf	fo	go	np
Traina W,13-0	7.0	3	1	0	2	10	0	0	1	0	24	27	5	5	120

Oregon	ip	h	r	er	bb	so	wp	bk	hbp	ibb	ab	bf	fo	go	np
Moore, Jessica L,12-4	7.0	4	5	3	3	14	0	0	0	1	25	28	2	5	135

Win - Traina (13-0). Loss - Moore, J (12-4). Save - None. HBP - by Traina (Nieto, C). Pitches/strikes: Traina 120/72; Moore, J 135/87.

Umpires -
Start: 5 pm Time: 2:12 Attendance: 600
Weather: 55, cloudy, wind 0-3 mph

Play-by-Play

2012 OREGON SOFTBALL
#1 Alabama at #14 Oregon
Mar 13, 2012 at Eugene, Ore. (Howe Field)

Alabama starters: 1/lf Braud; 7/cf Fenton; 18/1b Boccia; 33/p Traina; 22/dp Locke; 10/ss Hunt; 2/rf Lunceford; 4/2b Branham; 9/3b Conley; 12/c Dawson;

Oregon starters: 22/3b Ceo, C; 19/cf Takeda, J; 8/ss Chambers, K; 33/1b Cuico, K; 3/2b Howard, K; 0/rf Pappas, S; 14/c Peterson, A; 17/dp Nieto, C; 2/lf Burger, A; 12/p Moore, J;

Alabama 1st - Traina to p. Locke to dp. Braud walked (3-2 BBBKSB). Braud stole second. Fenton grounded out to p (1-2 KKFFB); Braud advanced to third. Boccia struck out swinging (2-2 KBBKS). Traina struck out swinging (2-2 KSBBFFS). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Oregon 1st - Ceo, C out at first 3b to 2b, bunt (1-1 BK). Takeda, J struck out swinging (1-2 FKFBFS). Chambers, K struck out swinging (3-2 FBBFBS). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Alabama 2nd - Locke grounded out to 3b (2-2 KBSB). Hunt struck out swinging (1-2 FSBS). Lunceford struck out swinging (0-2 SKFS). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Oregon 2nd - Cuico, K popped up to ss (2-0 BB). Howard, K grounded out to p (1-1 KB). Pappas, S struck out looking (2-2 BKBKK). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Alabama 3rd - Branham struck out swinging (3-2 BBKKBS). Conley struck out looking (2-2 BBKSK). Braud struck out swinging (2-2 SBFBS). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Oregon 3rd - Peterson, A struck out swinging (1-2 FBKS). Nieto, C walked (3-2 BKBBFB). Burger, A popped up to ss (3-2 BFFBB). Ceo, C flied out to cf (0-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Alabama 4th - Fenton popped up to 2b (1-1 FB). Boccia homered to left field, RBI (3-1 BBKB). Boccia's 4th homer of season just clears lf wall. Traina struck out looking (2-2 BKSBK). Ceo charges slow hopper to get runner at 1b by a step. Locke grounded out to 3b (1-1 KB). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Oregon 4th - Takeda, J struck out swinging (0-2 SFS). Chambers, K grounded out to 3b (1-2 FFBF). Cuico, K struck out swinging (2-2 BFBFS). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Alabama 5th - Hunt grounded out to 3b (0-1 F). Ceo climbs the ladder on high chopper & fires for easy out. Lunceford struck out swinging (0-2 FSFS). Branham struck out swinging (2-2 KBBFS). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Oregon 5th - Howard, K reached on an error by 3b (2-0 BB). Pappas, S grounded out to 1b unassisted (1-2 KSB); Howard, K advanced to second. Peterson, A flied out to rf (3-2 FFBBBF). Nieto, C hit by pitch (2-2 BKBF). Melick, H pinch hit for Burger, A. Melick, H singled to center field, RBI (3-2 BBBKF); Nieto, C out at second cf to 3b; Howard, K scored, unearned. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Alabama 6th - Pappas, S to lf. Nieto, C to rf. Melick, H to dp for Burger, A. Melick, H to dp for Burger, A. Burger, A to lf for Melick, H. Melick, H to dp for Burger, A. Conley struck out swinging (2-2 BBSSS). Braud doubled to right center (1-2 KFFFB). Fenton singled to third base (1-2 BKS); Braud advanced to third. Boccia intentionally walked (3-0 BBBB); Fenton advanced to second. Traina walked, RBI (3-2 SBBFB); Boccia advanced to second; Fenton advanced to third; Braud scored. Davis pinch ran for Boccia. Dawson pinch ran for Traina. / for Dawson. Locke fouled out to c (1-2 BKS). Hunt singled to left field, advanced to second, RBI (1-1 SB); Dawson advanced to second on an error by lf, scored, unearned; Davis scored, unearned; Fenton scored. Lunceford struck out looking (2-2 BFBSK). 4 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Oregon 6th - Boccia to 1b for Davis. Traina to p for Dawson. Dawson to c. Ceo, C flied out to cf (0-1 F). Takeda, J struck out swinging (1-2 BFSS). Chambers, K struck out looking (2-2 FBBFK). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Alabama 7th - Branham struck out swinging (1-2 BKSS). Sewell pinch hit for Conley. Sewell struck out looking (1-2 FBKK). Braud grounded out to 2b (3-2 KBBSB). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Oregon 7th - Conley to 3b for Sewell. Cuico, K singled to left field (3-2 BBSBF). Howard, K reached on a fielder's choice (2-2 SBSB); Cuico, K out at second ss to 2b. Pappas, S struck out swinging (2-2 BFBFS). Peterson, A singled to left field (0-0); Howard, K advanced to second. Goodrum, S pinch ran for Peterson, A. Nieto, C walked (3-2 BFBBSB); Goodrum, S advanced to second; Howard, K advanced to third. Melick, H struck out swinging (2-2 BFSBS). 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.