University of Oregon
Hawai'i
Ducks Beat Hawai'i to Improve to 10-0
02/23/17 | Softball
MAGGIE BALINT TOSSES FIRST-CAREER COMPLETE GAME, NIKKI UDRIA GOES 3-FOR-4 WITH HR TO LEAD NO. 5 DUCKS PAST RAINBOW WAHINE
HONOLULU - The No. 5 ranked Oregon softball team opened the Bank of Hawaii Invitational and improved to 10-0 to start the 2017 season on Thursday with an 8-2 win over Hawai'i at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
How it Happened: The Ducks jumped on the Rainbow Wahine (4-4) from the outset, as Jenna Lilley tripled to right-center to start the game and scored on a sacrifice fly by Gwen Svekis.
Oregon was able to orchestrate another run in the second to go up 2-0. Sammie Puentes worked a one-out walk before stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error, and Alexis Mack brought her in with a two-out bunt single. The Rainbow Wahine responded in the bottom half of the inning with a one-out triple to right, just out of reach of a diving Danica Mercado, and a base hit to center to cut the score to 2-1.
The Ducks got that run back and more in the top of the third, scoring three runs on five hits to extend their lead to 5-1. Svekis started the scoring with an RBI double down the left-field line, and Nikki Udria followed with a double off the wall to left to score Svekis. Back-to-back RBI singles by Mia Camuso and Shannon Rhodes pushed the Oregon lead to four.
After Hawai'i scored a run on a home run in the bottom of the fourth, Udria quickly responded with a leadoff homer to start the fifth, a solo shot to straightaway center field. The Ducks added another run in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Lauren Lindvall to push their lead to 7-2. Mercado capped the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the sixth, taking one out to center field.
In the Circle: Freshman Maggie Balint (6-0) put on another impressive performance for the Ducks, allowing just two runs on four hits while tossing the first complete game of her career. Balint racked up 10 strikeouts, giving her 49 in 39.2 innings this season, while allowing just one walk.
At the Plate: Udria finished 3-for-4 with a home run, double, two RBIs and two runs scored, falling a triple short of the cycle. Svekis also drove in a pair of runs, while Mercado, Rhodes, Lindvall and Mack each picked up one. Lilley, Mercado and Camuso each had two hits. The Ducks finished with 12 hits to account for their eight runs.
Up Next: The Ducks will continue with the Bank of Hawaii Invitational on Saturday with a pair of games against Montana (3:30 p.m. PT) and UNLV (6 p.m. PT).
