University of Oregon
1-0
Virginia
0-1
Softball Wins Season Opener vs. Virginia
02/09/17 | Softball
Oregon scored four runs in the first and four more in the second before defeating Virginia, 11-6, on Thursday.
Oregon (1-0) has five more games this weekend in Tempe.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Ducks opened the game with a bang, scoring four runs in the top of the first. Newcomer Alexis Mack, a transfer from South Carolina, led off with a double and later scored on a two-run double by All-American Nikki Udria. Freshman Mia Camuso singled in Udria to make it 3-0 and Camuso then scored an unearned run on a single by fellow freshman Miranda Elish for the fourth run of the frame.
After scoring four in the first, the Ducks added four more runs in the second inning. Sammie Puentes started the second with a single and stole second before scoring on a bases loaded walk to Lauren Lindvall. Camuso laced her second RBI single of the game to make it a 6-0 lead for the Ducks before Elish drove in two more runs with a single up the middle.
In the third inning, Udria hit a two-out single to score Danica Mercado and give the Ducks a 9-0 lead. Freshman pitcher Maggie Balint entered the game in the bottom half of the third and recorded a 1-2-3 inning.
Oregon's defense came apart in the fourth inning, as Virginia scored three runs on three errors to cut the UO lead to 9-3 heading to the fifth. Virginia picked up another unearned run in the sixth to make it a 9-4 lead for Oregon.
Oregon added to its lead with two runs in the seventh. Virginia also scored twice in the bottom of the seventh but it wasn't enough to overcome the Ducks' big early lead.
NEWCOMERS: The Ducks started four newcomers in the lineup against Virginia. Freshman Mia Camuso has won the starting job at first base while South Carolina transfer Alexis Mack led off and started in left. Freshman Miranda Elish, also a pitcher, started the game at designated player and freshman Shannon Rhodes started at third. Freshman pitcher Maggie Balint entered the game in relief in the bottom of the third. Freshman Haley Cruse entered the game as a pinch hitter in the third and remained in the game in left field. Elish also pitched later in the game.
UP NEXT: The Ducks have another game today, facing Creighton at 4:45 PM PT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Balint, Maggie (1-0)
L: L. Smith (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Mack, Alexis 1 ; Mercado, Danica 1 ; Udria, Nikki 2 ; Cruse, Haley 1
RBI: Svekis, Gwen 1 ; Udria, Nikki 4 ; Lindvall, Lauren 1 ; Camuso, Mia 2 ; Elish, Miranda 3
SH: Mercado, Danica 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Mack, Alexis 3 ; Mercado, Danica 2 ; Svekis, Gwen 2 ; Udria, Nikki 2 ; Lindvall, Lauren 1 ; Camuso, Mia 1
SB: Svekis, Gwen 1 ; Puentes, Sammie 1
CS: Camuso, Mia 1
Batting:
2B: Fitzgerald 1 ; M. Miller 3 ; I. Hughes 1
RBI: E. Osherow 1 ; M. Miller 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Fitzgerald 2 ; E. Osherow 1 ; M. Miller 1 ; M. Labshere 1 ; I. Hughes 1
PO: K. Park 1
