Ducks Open Series at Stanford with Win

Thursday, May 11

Stanford, Calif.

4:00 PM

University of Oregon

45-6, 15-6

Stanford

19-30, 2-20

Oregon

Stanford

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

05/11/17 | Softball

Box Score

Oregon exploded for eight runs in the final two innings to beat Stanford, 9-2, on Thursday to open a three-game Pac-12 series.

STANFORD, Calif. – The No. 3 ranked Oregon softball team won its eighth straight game, 9-2, to open a three-game series at Stanford on Thursday.

Oregon (45-6, 15-6 Pac-12) scored nine runs on seven hits with no errors. Stanford tallied two runs on five hits with a pair of errors.

HOW IT HAPPENED: After scoreless first and second innings, Oregon manufactured a run in the third. Jenna Lilley was hit by a pitch with one out and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Alexis Mack dropped down a bunt single, the Ducks pulled off a double steal for the game's first run.

Stanford came up and scored twice in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead.

Oregon trailed going into the sixth but the Ducks exploded for five runs on four hits and an error to take the lead. Danica Mercado started the frame with a single and, later with the bases loaded, she came home on a sacrifice fly by Nikki Udria. The centerfielder dropped the ball on the play, keeping the bases juiced with no outs. Shannon Rhodes then nearly hit a grand slam but her double off the wall in left scored two and gave the Ducks a 4-2 lead. A Mia Camuso RBI grounder made it a 5-2 lead and a pinch-hit RBI single by April Utecht put the Ducks up 6-2.

Oregon wasn't done scoring, as the Ducks added three more runs in the seventh. Rhodes added her third RBI with a sac fly before Camuso laced a RBI double into the gap in right center. A fielding error on a Sammie Puentes grounder allowed the ninth run of the game to score for the Ducks.

IN THE CIRCLE: Megan Kleist tossed a complete game for the Ducks, allowing two runs on five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. The sophomore is now 18-3 on the season with 17 complete games in 23 total starts.

AT THE PLATE: Shannon Rhodes continues to hit the ball well late in the season. The freshman was 1-for-3 with a sac fly and three RBIs on Thursday. Both Alexis Mack and Mia Camuso had two hits for the Ducks. Gwen Svekis was hit by a pitch twice in the game and scored a pair of runs.

UP NEXT: The Ducks meet Stanford for the second game of the series at 5 PM on Saturday.