Sunday, March 12
Eugene, Ore.
10:00 AM
University of Oregon
12
vs
1
Hofstra
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Softball Improves to 24-0 With Run-Rule Win
03/12/17 | Softball
Freshman RHP Maggie Balint allowed just win hit with eight strikeouts on Saturday against Hofstra.
EUGENE, Ore. – In Sunday's conclusion of the Oregon Invitational, the undefeated and No. 4 ranked Oregon softball team tallied another run-rule win in a 12-1 victory over Hofstra at Jane Sanders Stadium.
The No. 4 Ducks are now 24-0 on the season and remain the only undefeated team in the NCAA with Pac-12 play upcoming.
How it happened: In the first inning, Danica Mercado doubled on a shot to left field to advance Alexis Mack, who reached base on a walk. Mack then scored on a wild pitch. Defensively, pitcher Maggie Balint kept the Pride's bats quiet by allowing no hits and striking out five through two innings.
The Ducks started the third inning with three straight singles to load the bases. Gwen Svekis came home after Mia Camuso was hit by a pitch. Two more Ducks circled the bases after a pair of hits from Sammie Puentes and Alexis Mack. Danica Mercado drew a walk and brought home one more to put the Ducks ahead 5-0 going to the fourth.
The Ducks' bats exploded in the home half of the fourth, where a total of 13 Ducks stepped to the plate. Shannon Rhodes blasted a three-run homer over the fence in left field, bringing home Mia Camuso and Nikki Udria, who each reached via walks. After a Hofstra pitching change, Lauren Lindvall recorded a triple down the right field line. A double from Haley Cruse brought home pinch-hitter Darya Kaboli-Nejad and advanced Miranda Elish. The Ducks scored two more after Udria returned for a single, and Madi Bishop drew a walk. Oregon ended up scoring seven runs to lock in a 12-0 lead.
The Pride grabbed their only hit on a RBI single that scored an unearned run after runners advanced on a passed ball and a wild pitch by Balint.
However, the Pride struck out and popped out to close the fifth, and the Ducks secured a 12-1 win, their 24th straight.
In the Circle: Maggie Balint showed steadiness and control in the first four innings of the ballgame, allowing no hits and walking only three. She allowed a single hit after the prolonged fourth inning, but the run was unearned and she maintains a 1.11 ERA on the season.
At the Plate: Shannon Rhodes had a game-high three RBIs on her home run. Nikki Udria went 2-for-3 and knocked in one. Sammie Puentes was 2-for-2 and drove in two runs.
Quotable:
Head Coach Mike White, on upcoming Pac-12 play…
"We know Cal, coming in, are a good team and are very athletic. They're very fast, kind of like Idaho State, as far as speed, so it was good to see them yesterday. We'll keep an eye on the pitchers a little bit, look at some film, and get ready to play."
Pitcher Maggie Balint, on a possible no-no…
"I'm not here to get no-hitters, I'm here to get outs and win it for our team. I think our biggest thing as a pitching staff this year is that we want shutouts – Coach White says that you can win on a shutout, you can't win with one run, so I think my mentality is to not let any runs cross the board."
Up Next: The Ducks will face Cal on Friday at 6 p.m. PT to kick off a three-game Pac-12 series. Wednesday's games against Portland State will be postponed to a later date.
The No. 4 Ducks are now 24-0 on the season and remain the only undefeated team in the NCAA with Pac-12 play upcoming.
How it happened: In the first inning, Danica Mercado doubled on a shot to left field to advance Alexis Mack, who reached base on a walk. Mack then scored on a wild pitch. Defensively, pitcher Maggie Balint kept the Pride's bats quiet by allowing no hits and striking out five through two innings.
The Ducks started the third inning with three straight singles to load the bases. Gwen Svekis came home after Mia Camuso was hit by a pitch. Two more Ducks circled the bases after a pair of hits from Sammie Puentes and Alexis Mack. Danica Mercado drew a walk and brought home one more to put the Ducks ahead 5-0 going to the fourth.
The Ducks' bats exploded in the home half of the fourth, where a total of 13 Ducks stepped to the plate. Shannon Rhodes blasted a three-run homer over the fence in left field, bringing home Mia Camuso and Nikki Udria, who each reached via walks. After a Hofstra pitching change, Lauren Lindvall recorded a triple down the right field line. A double from Haley Cruse brought home pinch-hitter Darya Kaboli-Nejad and advanced Miranda Elish. The Ducks scored two more after Udria returned for a single, and Madi Bishop drew a walk. Oregon ended up scoring seven runs to lock in a 12-0 lead.
The Pride grabbed their only hit on a RBI single that scored an unearned run after runners advanced on a passed ball and a wild pitch by Balint.
However, the Pride struck out and popped out to close the fifth, and the Ducks secured a 12-1 win, their 24th straight.
In the Circle: Maggie Balint showed steadiness and control in the first four innings of the ballgame, allowing no hits and walking only three. She allowed a single hit after the prolonged fourth inning, but the run was unearned and she maintains a 1.11 ERA on the season.
At the Plate: Shannon Rhodes had a game-high three RBIs on her home run. Nikki Udria went 2-for-3 and knocked in one. Sammie Puentes was 2-for-2 and drove in two runs.
Quotable:
Head Coach Mike White, on upcoming Pac-12 play…
"We know Cal, coming in, are a good team and are very athletic. They're very fast, kind of like Idaho State, as far as speed, so it was good to see them yesterday. We'll keep an eye on the pitchers a little bit, look at some film, and get ready to play."
Pitcher Maggie Balint, on a possible no-no…
"I'm not here to get no-hitters, I'm here to get outs and win it for our team. I think our biggest thing as a pitching staff this year is that we want shutouts – Coach White says that you can win on a shutout, you can't win with one run, so I think my mentality is to not let any runs cross the board."
Up Next: The Ducks will face Cal on Friday at 6 p.m. PT to kick off a three-game Pac-12 series. Wednesday's games against Portland State will be postponed to a later date.
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball2024-25 Oregon Softball Intro Video
Thursday, June 12
The Power of Seven.
Thursday, May 29
The Oregon Softball Fan Experience | 2025 NCAA Super Regionals
Monday, May 26
Oregon Softball | NCAA Super Regionals | Postgame - Game 2
Sunday, May 25
