University of Oregon
Missouri
Ducks Spoil Grand Opening for No. 24 Missouri
03/03/17 | Softball
IN THE GRAND OPENING OF MIZZOU STADIUM, THE NO. 4 DUCKS TOOK DOWN NO. 24 MISSOURI, 10-3, TO IMPROVE TO 16-0 TO OPEN THE SEASON.
COLUMBIA, MO. - The No. 4 ranked Oregon softball team spoiled the grand opening of Mizzou Stadium on Friday night, defeating No. 24 Missouri, 10-3, to remain undefeated to open the 2017 season.
The Ducks (16-0) are now 2-0 to start the Mizzou Tournament after routing Maryland, 14-0, earlier in the day.
How it Happened: Gwen Svekis drove in the first two runs in the history of Mizzou Stadium in the first inning, ripping a two-run home run to deep left-center field to give the Ducks a quick 2-0 advantage.
Amanda Sanchez got the Tigers (7-6) on the board in the fourth inning, cutting the Oregon lead in half with a solo home run to left-center field to kick off the frame.
The Ducks answered in the top of the fifth, erupting for five runs on five hits with the help of two Missouri errors to extend their lead to 7-1. After back-to-back days, Alexis Mack continued a terrific day at the plate with a two-run triple to left field. Svekis added another RBI two batters later with a groundout to score Mack, and Nikki Udria followed with an RBI single to right. Lauren Lindvall tacked on Oregon's fifth run of the inning with a RBI single to left field after a pair of Tiger errors kept the inning alive.
Missouri avoided a run-rule loss in the sixth inning, as Braxton Burnside opened the inning with a solo home run. The Tigers added another run on an RBI double to cut the lead to 9-3 before Danica Mercado pushed Oregon into double digits with an RBI single in the seventh.
In the Circle: Freshman Maggie Balint (8-0) impressed in the circle once again for the Ducks, allowing three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in 5.1 innings. Fellow freshman Miranda Elish held the Tigers scoreless across the final 1.2 innings after throwing a two-hit shutout against Maryland earlier in the day.
At the Plate: Svekis drove in a team-best three runs, including the two-run homer, while going 2-for-5. Mack went 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored, making her 7-for-8 on the day with two triples, four RBIs and four runs. Mercado, Udria, Bishop and Lindvall also drove in runs for the Ducks, and Udria and Lindvall each picked up two hits. Between the two games, the Ducks went 30-for-66 (.455) with 24 runs on 30 hits.
What it Means: With 16-straight wins to open the season, the Ducks are only two wins shy of the matching the longest winning streak in program history. Oregon won 18 in a row last year and in 2007. In their last three games, the Ducks have outscored their opponents 41-3.
Up Next: The Ducks and the Tigers will face off in a rematch at Mizzou Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. PT. Oregon will wrap the tournament's second day against Butler at 6 p.m. PT.
