University of Oregon
48-6
Illinois-Chicago
38-21
Ducks Open Regionals with Run-Rule Win
05/19/17 | Softball
Oregon exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the fourth to run-rule UIC, 13-0, to open action in the Eugene Regional.
The Ducks (48-6) tallied 13 runs on 12 hits with no errors while the Flames scored no runs on two hits with four errors.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Ducks scored in every inning on Friday night. Oregon scored once in the first inning, twice in the second and once more in the third before the floodgates opened up in the fourth.
Leading UIC, 4-0, entering the bottom of the fourth, the Ducks scored nine runs to put the run-rule into play in the fifth.
Gwen Svekis started the big fourth inning with a RBI single. Nikki Udria followed with a RBI single of her own to make it a 6-0 lead for the Ducks. Pinch runner Haley Cruse then scored on a throwing error by the catcher and another run came in on a RBI grounder by Mia Camuso. Oregon led, 8-0, with one out when Madi Bishop laced a single to right to drive in another run. A fielder's choice put runners at the corners with two outs. Jenna Lilley, who started the inning with a walk, singled in a run to make it a 10-0 lead for the Ducks. a few batters later, Miranda Elish came on to pinch hit with the bases loaded and a throwing error allowed all three baserunners to score to make it 13-0.
IN THE CIRCLE: Freshman Maggie Balint (20-3) tossed a two-hit shutout in her first collegiate postseason start. The right-hander issued two walks and struck out nine batters in the five-inning win. UIC starter Elaine Heflin took the loss despite facing just two batters. After giving up back-to-back bunt singles in the first inning, Heflin landed awkwardly following a pitch and was taken out of the game.
AT THE PLATE: Freshman Shannon Rhodes continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored an a RBI. Over the last four games, Rhodes has driven in 10 runs. Danica Mercado and Jenna Lilley each had two hits. Eight different Oregon players had a hit in the game.
REGIONALS RUN: Oregon is now 22-0 in NCAA regional games in eight seasons under head coach Mike White.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Balint, Maggie (20-3)
L: HEFLIN, Elaine (13-9)
Batting:
SH: SOPPET, Savannah 1
Batting:
2B: Rhodes, Shannon 1 ; Lindvall, Lauren 1
RBI: Mercado, Danica 1 ; Svekis, Gwen 1 ; Udria, Nikki 1 ; Rhodes, Shannon 1 ; Camuso, Mia 1 ; Bishop, Madi 1 ; Lilley, Jenna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mercado, Danica 1 ; Mack, Alexis 2 ; Cruse, Haley 1 ; Udria, Nikki 1 ; Rhodes, Shannon 2 ; Camuso, Mia 1 ; Lindvall, Lauren 2 ; Lilley, Jenna 2 ; Burks, Cherish 1
SB: Mack, Alexis 1 ; Udria, Nikki 1 ; Lilley, Jenna 1 ; Burks, Cherish 1
CS: Mercado, Danica 1
HBP: Utecht, April 1
