Saturday, May 27
Eugene, Ore.
4:00 PM
University of Oregon
vs
Kentucky
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Notes: Ducks Meet Wildcats in Super Regionals
05/23/17 | Softball
No. 3 seed Oregon hosts No. 14 seed Kentucky this weekend for Super Regionals at Jane Sanders Stadium
EUGENE, Ore. - The No. 3 seed Oregon softball team will play host to No. 14 seed Kentucky this weekend for NCAA Super Regionals at Jane Sanders Stadium.
The Ducks and Wildcats will meet at 4 PM on Friday, 4 PM on Saturday and, if needed, noon on Sunday.
BROADCAST INFO
- The ESPN family of networks will broadcast every game at the Eugene Super Regional. Friday's game will be on ESPNU, Saturday's game will be on ESPN2 and Sunday's game, if needed, will air on ESPNU.
- Trey Bender and former Washington pitcher Danielle Lawrie will call the games for ESPN.
- KWVA 88.1 FM will broadcast the series as well.
- Live stats are available on the NCAA.com bracket.
#3 SEED OREGON DUCKS (50-6)
Team BA: .328 | Team ERA: 1.30 | Runs Scored: 375 | Runs Allowed: 87
Recently: Went 3-0 to win the Eugene Regional, beating Wisconsin in final
National Rankings: No. 3 in the NFCA poll, No. 1 in the USA Softball poll
All-Time Series: Tied, 2-2 (UO won, 5-4, this year, Kentucky won, 8-6, last year)
Last Meeting: UO defeated Kentucky, 5-4, on Feb. 17 at Mary Nutter in Palm Springs
- The Ducks have reached 50 wins for the fifth time in program history, four have come under Mike White.
- Oregon is trying to reach the WCWS for the fourth time in six seasons (2012, 2014 and 2015).
- UO is now 24-0 in NCAA Regional games under head coach Mike White after sweeping through the Eugene Regional last weekend. The Ducks outscored their competition, 28-5, including two shutout run-rule victories.
- The Ducks rank fifth in the NCAA with a 1.30 ERA and eighth with a .328 batting average.
- Oregon's three pitchers all rank in the top-5 of the Pac-12 in ERA. Maggie Balint is second in the Pac-12 with a 1.16 ERA. Megan Kleist is fourth in the league with a 1.27 ERA while Miranda Elish is fifth with a 1.53 ERA.
- Alexis Mack and Danica Mercado rank first and second, respecitvely, in the Pac-12 in stolen bases. Mack leads the league with 26 while Mercado is just behind her in second with 24.
- Nikki Udria needs three more runs and five more RBIs to rank second all-time at UO in both categories. Udria has 191 career runs, just behind Courtney Ceo (193), and 176 RBIs, four back of Kailee Cuico (180).
#14 SEED KENTUCKY WILDCATS (39-17)
Team BA: .285 | Team ERA: 2.19 | Runs Scored: 228 | Runs Allowed: 147
Recently: Went 3-0 to win the Lexington Regional, defeating Illinois in final
National Rankings: No. 19 in the NFCA poll, No. 20 in the USA Softball poll
Head Coach: Rachel Lawson (10th Season)
- Kentucky finished seventh in the SEC with a 12-12 league record. The Wildcast lost, 2-0, to Auburn in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament in Knoxville.
- Oregon defeated Kentucky earlier this season at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs. Down, 4-1, going to the sixth, the then-No. 7 Ducks scored three runs in the sixth to tie it before Nikki Udria belted a solo homer in the seventh for a 6-5 win over then-No. 22 ranked Kentucky.
- Kentucky has primarily used two pitchers in 2017, with Meagan Prince owning a 21-7 record (one of those losses against Oregon) and a 1.82 ERA with 173 strikeouts in 188 innings. Erin Rethlake has a 10-5 record with a 1.90 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 99.2 innings.
- At the plate, the Wildcats are led by Katie Reed's .356 batting average. She also has 10 doubles and 15 stolen bases. Abbey Cheek leads the team with 12 homers and 40 RBIs. Rethlake also hits for the Wildcats, with a .303 average and 18 stolen bases.
NCAA SUPER REGIONAL HISTORY
- Oregon has advanced to super regionals in all eight seasons under head coach Mike White. The Ducks are 8-9 in super regional games under White.
- UO has hosted a super regional five straight years.
- In White's first season - 2010 - the Ducks were swept at Missouri, 2-0, in Super Regionals. Oregon was also swept at Florida in 2011. In 2012, however, Oregon lost the first game at Texas but won the doubleheader to advance to the WCWS. In 2013, hosting a super regional for the first time, the Ducks lost in three games to Nebraska. The Ducks swept Minnesota in 2014 and NC State in 2015 but lost in three games to UCLA last year.
- Oregon won the first game of super regionals last year agianst the Bruins, 8-1. The Ducks held a 1-0 lead entering the bottom of the seventh (UCLA was the home team) of the second game but the Bruins hit a solo homer off Megan Kleist to tie it, 1-1. UCLA eventually won the second game in nine innings on a walkoff single. The Bruins won the third game as well, 2-1. Jenna Lilley doubled in a run in the seventh but the Ducks couldn't finish off the comeback.
NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
- Oregon is now 24-0-0 in NCAA regional games under head coach Mike White and 49-21 all-time.
- The Ducks have outscored opponents 144-29 in regional play in White's eight seasons at the helm.
- Oregon has run-ruled five opponents while tossing 10 shutouts in that span.
- This year Oregon run-ruled UIC, 13-0, in five innings before staging a thrilling comeback to beat Wisconsin, 6-5, in eight inning. Shannon Rhodes doubled down the line with two outs in the seventh to tie the game, 5-5. Danica Mercado drove in Miranda Elish in the eighth to win the game. In the third game of the regional, the Ducks run-ruled Wisconsin, 9-0, in five innings.
- Oregon's last defeat in the regional round was in 2008 at Oklahoma, when they were eliminated after an 11-0 loss
POSTSEASON HISTORY
- Oregon is 62-42 all-time in postseason play and 35-15 under head coach Mike White after sweeping through regionals last weekend.
- In 2017, the Ducks are making their 19th appearance in the NCAA tournament overall, not including two AIAW tournament trips in 1976 and 1980 before the NCAA sponsored women's sports.
- Oregon's first NCAA regional appearance was in 1989, when the Ducks also advanced to their first WCWS in Sunnyvale, Calif. Oregon has gone on to the WCWS three times since, in 2012, 2014 and 2015.
EARLIER THIS YEAR AGAINST KENTUCKY
Then-No. 7 ranked Oregon rallied to beat then-No. 22 Kentucky, 5-4, at the Mary Nutter Classic in Palm Springs on Feb. 17. Down 4-1 in the sixth, Oregon used two Wildcat errors on the same play to clear the bases with a single and tie the game up. Nikki Udria blasted a solo homer in the seventh to give the Ducks the win. Kentucky Pitcher Meagan Prince took the loss in relief after allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits in 3.2 innings. Oregon freshman Maggie Balint earned the win in relief, allowing two runs on three hits in three innings with three strikeouts. Danica Mercado went 3-for-4 in the game while both Udria and Lauren Lindvall had two hits. UO had 11 hits in the win while Kentucky tallied just four hits.
SWIPE SISTERS
Sophomore Alexis Mack (26) and senior Danica Mercado (24) are first and second in the Pac-12 in stolen bases, respectively. As a team, the Ducks have a Pac-12-high 95 stolen bases this year, 43 more than Cal in second place.
RHODES' HITTING STREAK
Freshman Shannon Rhodes has a 15-game hitting streak going into this weekend's super regional games against Kentucky. It is the longest streak by any Duck this season, one longer than Nikki Udria's 14-game streak earlier this year. Rhodes is hitting .523 during the streak with 17 runs scored and 20 RBIs. The centerfielder hit .778 (7-for-9) in regionals.
205 WINS
Oregon's group of seniors have gone 205-33 over the last four seasons. The 205 wins are tied with last year's group of seniors for the most in program history.
UDRIA ATTACKING THE RECORD BOOK
Nikki Udria is working her way into contention for multiple Oregon career records. Udria is currently third in UO history with 191 career runs with the record of 204 held by Janie Takeda (2015). She's also third with 176 RBIs with Janelle Lindvall setting the record of 195 in 2016. Udria is fourth in UO history with 241 hits and fifth with a .375 career batting average.
STRIKEOUT-TO-WALK RATIOS
Oregon's young pitching staff has racked up the strikeouts this season without allowing many free passes.
- Sophomore RHP Megan Kleist has 138 strikeouts and just 32 walks, a 4.3-to-1 ratio.
- Freshman RHP Maggie Balint has 150 strikeouts this season compared to just 36 walks, a 4.1-to-1 ratio.
- Freshman RHP Miranda Elish has 91 strikeouts but only 23 walks for a 4.0-to-1 ratio.
IN THE CIRCLE
Oregon's young pitching staff has shined all year long.
- With a 1.30 team ERA, the Ducks rank fifth in the NCAA and second in the Pac-12.
- Oregon owns three of the top-5 ERAs in the Pac-12 this season, highlighted by Maggie Balint's 1.16 ERA, second-best in the Pac-12. Megan Kleist is fourth with a 1.27 and Miranda Elish is fifth with a 1.53.
- Maggie Balint leads the Pac-12 with a .166 opponent batting average.
- Oregon pitchers have struck out 379 batters, the second most in the Pac-12.
EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE
Oregon has been one of the best hitting teams in the nation over the last few seasons and this year is no exception.
- UO ranks eighth in the NCAA and second in the Pac-12 with a .328 batting average.
- The Ducks are sixth in the country and rank second in the league with a .424 on-base percentage.
- Oregon is sixth in scoring in the NCAA, averaging 6.7 runs per game.
- Oregon owns two of the top-5 batting averages in the Pac-12. Alexis Mack is third with a .407 batting average while Nikki Udria is fifth with a .396. Mack is third in the conference with a .492 on-base percentage with Udria behind her in sixth with a .487.
THE DUCKS UNDER MIKE WHITE
- Oregon is 16-8 vs. Arizona, 14-12-1 vs. Arizona State, 17-8 vs. California, 24-3 vs. Oregon State, 19-5 vs. Stanford, 13-15 vs. UCLA, 16-1 vs. Utah and 14-9 vs. Washington under Mike White.
- Longest losing streak is just four games (2010)
- Longest winning streak is 35 games (2017)
- The Ducks are 43-15-3 overall in Pac-12 series.
- The Ducks have been swept three times in a Pac-12 series under White while sweeping opponents 27 times.
- 4-11 against No. 1 ranked teams
- 35-15 in the postseason, 24-0 in regionals.
- UO has advanced to Supers every year under White.
- Including 2017, White has coached 30 first team all-Pac-12 selections in his eight seasons in Eugene.
The Ducks and Wildcats will meet at 4 PM on Friday, 4 PM on Saturday and, if needed, noon on Sunday.
BROADCAST INFO
- The ESPN family of networks will broadcast every game at the Eugene Super Regional. Friday's game will be on ESPNU, Saturday's game will be on ESPN2 and Sunday's game, if needed, will air on ESPNU.
- Trey Bender and former Washington pitcher Danielle Lawrie will call the games for ESPN.
- KWVA 88.1 FM will broadcast the series as well.
- Live stats are available on the NCAA.com bracket.
#3 SEED OREGON DUCKS (50-6)
Team BA: .328 | Team ERA: 1.30 | Runs Scored: 375 | Runs Allowed: 87
Recently: Went 3-0 to win the Eugene Regional, beating Wisconsin in final
National Rankings: No. 3 in the NFCA poll, No. 1 in the USA Softball poll
All-Time Series: Tied, 2-2 (UO won, 5-4, this year, Kentucky won, 8-6, last year)
Last Meeting: UO defeated Kentucky, 5-4, on Feb. 17 at Mary Nutter in Palm Springs
- The Ducks have reached 50 wins for the fifth time in program history, four have come under Mike White.
- Oregon is trying to reach the WCWS for the fourth time in six seasons (2012, 2014 and 2015).
- UO is now 24-0 in NCAA Regional games under head coach Mike White after sweeping through the Eugene Regional last weekend. The Ducks outscored their competition, 28-5, including two shutout run-rule victories.
- The Ducks rank fifth in the NCAA with a 1.30 ERA and eighth with a .328 batting average.
- Oregon's three pitchers all rank in the top-5 of the Pac-12 in ERA. Maggie Balint is second in the Pac-12 with a 1.16 ERA. Megan Kleist is fourth in the league with a 1.27 ERA while Miranda Elish is fifth with a 1.53 ERA.
- Alexis Mack and Danica Mercado rank first and second, respecitvely, in the Pac-12 in stolen bases. Mack leads the league with 26 while Mercado is just behind her in second with 24.
- Nikki Udria needs three more runs and five more RBIs to rank second all-time at UO in both categories. Udria has 191 career runs, just behind Courtney Ceo (193), and 176 RBIs, four back of Kailee Cuico (180).
#14 SEED KENTUCKY WILDCATS (39-17)
Team BA: .285 | Team ERA: 2.19 | Runs Scored: 228 | Runs Allowed: 147
Recently: Went 3-0 to win the Lexington Regional, defeating Illinois in final
National Rankings: No. 19 in the NFCA poll, No. 20 in the USA Softball poll
Head Coach: Rachel Lawson (10th Season)
- Kentucky finished seventh in the SEC with a 12-12 league record. The Wildcast lost, 2-0, to Auburn in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament in Knoxville.
- Oregon defeated Kentucky earlier this season at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs. Down, 4-1, going to the sixth, the then-No. 7 Ducks scored three runs in the sixth to tie it before Nikki Udria belted a solo homer in the seventh for a 6-5 win over then-No. 22 ranked Kentucky.
- Kentucky has primarily used two pitchers in 2017, with Meagan Prince owning a 21-7 record (one of those losses against Oregon) and a 1.82 ERA with 173 strikeouts in 188 innings. Erin Rethlake has a 10-5 record with a 1.90 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 99.2 innings.
- At the plate, the Wildcats are led by Katie Reed's .356 batting average. She also has 10 doubles and 15 stolen bases. Abbey Cheek leads the team with 12 homers and 40 RBIs. Rethlake also hits for the Wildcats, with a .303 average and 18 stolen bases.
NCAA SUPER REGIONAL HISTORY
- Oregon has advanced to super regionals in all eight seasons under head coach Mike White. The Ducks are 8-9 in super regional games under White.
- UO has hosted a super regional five straight years.
- In White's first season - 2010 - the Ducks were swept at Missouri, 2-0, in Super Regionals. Oregon was also swept at Florida in 2011. In 2012, however, Oregon lost the first game at Texas but won the doubleheader to advance to the WCWS. In 2013, hosting a super regional for the first time, the Ducks lost in three games to Nebraska. The Ducks swept Minnesota in 2014 and NC State in 2015 but lost in three games to UCLA last year.
- Oregon won the first game of super regionals last year agianst the Bruins, 8-1. The Ducks held a 1-0 lead entering the bottom of the seventh (UCLA was the home team) of the second game but the Bruins hit a solo homer off Megan Kleist to tie it, 1-1. UCLA eventually won the second game in nine innings on a walkoff single. The Bruins won the third game as well, 2-1. Jenna Lilley doubled in a run in the seventh but the Ducks couldn't finish off the comeback.
NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
- Oregon is now 24-0-0 in NCAA regional games under head coach Mike White and 49-21 all-time.
- The Ducks have outscored opponents 144-29 in regional play in White's eight seasons at the helm.
- Oregon has run-ruled five opponents while tossing 10 shutouts in that span.
- This year Oregon run-ruled UIC, 13-0, in five innings before staging a thrilling comeback to beat Wisconsin, 6-5, in eight inning. Shannon Rhodes doubled down the line with two outs in the seventh to tie the game, 5-5. Danica Mercado drove in Miranda Elish in the eighth to win the game. In the third game of the regional, the Ducks run-ruled Wisconsin, 9-0, in five innings.
- Oregon's last defeat in the regional round was in 2008 at Oklahoma, when they were eliminated after an 11-0 loss
POSTSEASON HISTORY
- Oregon is 62-42 all-time in postseason play and 35-15 under head coach Mike White after sweeping through regionals last weekend.
- In 2017, the Ducks are making their 19th appearance in the NCAA tournament overall, not including two AIAW tournament trips in 1976 and 1980 before the NCAA sponsored women's sports.
- Oregon's first NCAA regional appearance was in 1989, when the Ducks also advanced to their first WCWS in Sunnyvale, Calif. Oregon has gone on to the WCWS three times since, in 2012, 2014 and 2015.
EARLIER THIS YEAR AGAINST KENTUCKY
Then-No. 7 ranked Oregon rallied to beat then-No. 22 Kentucky, 5-4, at the Mary Nutter Classic in Palm Springs on Feb. 17. Down 4-1 in the sixth, Oregon used two Wildcat errors on the same play to clear the bases with a single and tie the game up. Nikki Udria blasted a solo homer in the seventh to give the Ducks the win. Kentucky Pitcher Meagan Prince took the loss in relief after allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits in 3.2 innings. Oregon freshman Maggie Balint earned the win in relief, allowing two runs on three hits in three innings with three strikeouts. Danica Mercado went 3-for-4 in the game while both Udria and Lauren Lindvall had two hits. UO had 11 hits in the win while Kentucky tallied just four hits.
SWIPE SISTERS
Sophomore Alexis Mack (26) and senior Danica Mercado (24) are first and second in the Pac-12 in stolen bases, respectively. As a team, the Ducks have a Pac-12-high 95 stolen bases this year, 43 more than Cal in second place.
RHODES' HITTING STREAK
Freshman Shannon Rhodes has a 15-game hitting streak going into this weekend's super regional games against Kentucky. It is the longest streak by any Duck this season, one longer than Nikki Udria's 14-game streak earlier this year. Rhodes is hitting .523 during the streak with 17 runs scored and 20 RBIs. The centerfielder hit .778 (7-for-9) in regionals.
205 WINS
Oregon's group of seniors have gone 205-33 over the last four seasons. The 205 wins are tied with last year's group of seniors for the most in program history.
UDRIA ATTACKING THE RECORD BOOK
Nikki Udria is working her way into contention for multiple Oregon career records. Udria is currently third in UO history with 191 career runs with the record of 204 held by Janie Takeda (2015). She's also third with 176 RBIs with Janelle Lindvall setting the record of 195 in 2016. Udria is fourth in UO history with 241 hits and fifth with a .375 career batting average.
STRIKEOUT-TO-WALK RATIOS
Oregon's young pitching staff has racked up the strikeouts this season without allowing many free passes.
- Sophomore RHP Megan Kleist has 138 strikeouts and just 32 walks, a 4.3-to-1 ratio.
- Freshman RHP Maggie Balint has 150 strikeouts this season compared to just 36 walks, a 4.1-to-1 ratio.
- Freshman RHP Miranda Elish has 91 strikeouts but only 23 walks for a 4.0-to-1 ratio.
IN THE CIRCLE
Oregon's young pitching staff has shined all year long.
- With a 1.30 team ERA, the Ducks rank fifth in the NCAA and second in the Pac-12.
- Oregon owns three of the top-5 ERAs in the Pac-12 this season, highlighted by Maggie Balint's 1.16 ERA, second-best in the Pac-12. Megan Kleist is fourth with a 1.27 and Miranda Elish is fifth with a 1.53.
- Maggie Balint leads the Pac-12 with a .166 opponent batting average.
- Oregon pitchers have struck out 379 batters, the second most in the Pac-12.
EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE
Oregon has been one of the best hitting teams in the nation over the last few seasons and this year is no exception.
- UO ranks eighth in the NCAA and second in the Pac-12 with a .328 batting average.
- The Ducks are sixth in the country and rank second in the league with a .424 on-base percentage.
- Oregon is sixth in scoring in the NCAA, averaging 6.7 runs per game.
- Oregon owns two of the top-5 batting averages in the Pac-12. Alexis Mack is third with a .407 batting average while Nikki Udria is fifth with a .396. Mack is third in the conference with a .492 on-base percentage with Udria behind her in sixth with a .487.
THE DUCKS UNDER MIKE WHITE
- Oregon is 16-8 vs. Arizona, 14-12-1 vs. Arizona State, 17-8 vs. California, 24-3 vs. Oregon State, 19-5 vs. Stanford, 13-15 vs. UCLA, 16-1 vs. Utah and 14-9 vs. Washington under Mike White.
- Longest losing streak is just four games (2010)
- Longest winning streak is 35 games (2017)
- The Ducks are 43-15-3 overall in Pac-12 series.
- The Ducks have been swept three times in a Pac-12 series under White while sweeping opponents 27 times.
- 4-11 against No. 1 ranked teams
- 35-15 in the postseason, 24-0 in regionals.
- UO has advanced to Supers every year under White.
- Including 2017, White has coached 30 first team all-Pac-12 selections in his eight seasons in Eugene.
Players Mentioned
RHP
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RHP
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RHP
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IF
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C
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IF
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OF
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OF
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IF
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