University of Oregon
34-5, 12-2
#19 Arizona State
27-14, 5-5
Ducks Run-Rule No. 19 Arizona State
04/12/15 | Softball
EUGENE, Ore. – Nikki Udria capped a big game for No. 2 ranked Oregon with a walkoff run-rule three-run homer in a 12-3 win in six innings over No. 19 Arizona State on Saturday at Howe Field.
The Ducks improved to 34-5 (12-2 Pac-12) with the victory while ASU slipped to 27-14 (5-5) with the loss.
By winning the first two games of the three-game series, the Ducks have taken a season series against ASU for the first time since 2005. Overall, Oregon has won 21 of its last 23 conference series.
“We were a team that came from the bottom and worked our way up,” said head coach Mike White. “Now we just want to keep it there and keep playing well. This conference is loaded with good-hitting teams. We have to keep going and keep pushing.”
Scoring Summary: After scoring a pair in the first inning the Ducks kept piling on the runs with three in the second, one in the third and two more in the fourth. Oregon didn't score in the fifth but Udria made up for it in the sixth.
In the first, Jenna Lilley and Hailey Decker both drew two-out walks and both eventually came around to score on RBI singles by Janelle Lindvall and Geri Ann Glasco. In the second Udria singled up the middle to score Danica Mercado and Alyssa Gillespie scored a batter later when Janie Takeda singled. Lilley hit a sacrifice fly to left to make it a 5-2 lead for the Ducks as ASU homered in the top half of the second. In the third, Gillespie started the scoring again with a RBI single to make a 6-2 game. Oregon added on two more runs in the fourth on a RBI double by Decker and a sac fly from Mercado.
After failing to score in the fifth, Gillespie drove in another run, this time with a bases loaded sac fly to left to make it a 9-3 lead for the Ducks. Udria ended the game a batter later when she went opposite field with a three-run homer to left, her second of the season.
In the Circle: The Ducks started Geri Ann Glasco on Saturday but the junior lasted just one inning before giving up a two-run homer in the second with no outs. After an ensuing walk, Oregon pulled Glasco and brought in Karissa Hovinga.
Just like she did against UCLA in relief last weekend, Hovinga shut down the opposition. The senior allowed just one unearned run on four hits over the next five innings, striking out a pair and walking none.
“I was feeling good,” Hovinga said. “I felt confident and I think last week helped a lot with that.”
Hovinga is now 9-1 on the year with a 3.35 ERA in 54.1 innings pitched.
Stat Sheet: Lindvall went 3-for-3 with a walk and a RBI as eight different players had at least one RBI in the game, led by Udria's four.
Fun Fact: Since going from the leadoff spot in the lineup to the No. 9 spot for the second game of last weekend's UCLA series, Alyssa Gillespie is hitting .700 (7-for-10) over the last four games.
Up Next: The Ducks and Sun Devils meet for the series finale on Sunday at noon. Pac-12 Networks will carry the game live. Fans wearing yellow will get tickets for just $3 at the gate.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hovinga, Karissa (9-1)
L: Ryndak, Dale (12-6)
Batting:
HR: Kemp, Bethany 1
RBI: Kemp, Bethany 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Gonzales, Chelsea 1 ; Steele, Haley 1 ; Kemp, Bethany 1
Batting:
2B: Decker, Hailey 1 ; Costa, Koral 1
HR: Udria, Nikki 1
RBI: Udria, Nikki 4 ; Takeda, Janie 1 ; Lilley, Jenna 1 ; Decker, Hailey 1 ; Glasco, Geri Ann 1 ; Lindvall, Janelle 1 ; Mercado, Danica 1 ; Gillespie, Alyssa 2
SF: Lilley, Jenna 1 ; Mercado, Danica 1 ; Gillespie, Alyssa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Udria, Nikki 2 ; Lilley, Jenna 2 ; Decker, Hailey 2 ; Lindvall, Janelle 1 ; Costa, Koral 2 ; Mercado, Danica 2 ; Gillespie, Alyssa 1
SB: Takeda, Janie 1 ; Lilley, Jenna 1
HBP: Mercado, Danica 1
