Svekis Mashes Two Homers as Ducks Beat Arizona, 5-2

Friday, April 6

Eugene, OR

5:00 PM

University of Oregon

30-6, 5-2

Arizona

27-7, 6-4

Arizona

Oregon

Svekis Mashes Two Homers as Ducks Beat Arizona, 5-2

04/06/18 | Softball

Box Score SB Arizona 1 Box 18 Postgame Quotes - Arizona Game 1

By: Joe Waltasti

EUGENE, Ore. - Senior Gwen Svekis hit a pair of home runs and the No. 5 ranked Oregon softball team defeated No. 9 Arizona, 5-2, on Friday to open a three-game series at Jane Sanders Stadium.

The Ducks (30-6, 5-2) are now 7-5 against top-25 teams and 10-1 in home games.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Ducks got on the board first when Svekis crushed a solo home run to right center in the second inning.

Megan Kleist was sharp in the circle for the Ducks. The junior didn't allow an Arizona runner to reach second base until the fourth inning, when a sacrifice bunt moved a runner over after a one-out single. Kleist quickly got a pop up to end the threat. Kleist worked out of a jam again in the fifth. Arizona used a single, a stolen base and a second two-out single to put runners at the corners. Kleist struck out Reyna Carranco on three pitches to end the frame.

Arizona tied up the game, 1-1, in the sixth inning when a UO error allowed the Wildcats to get a run home on a fielder's choice grounder. A close call at the plate was ruled obstruction and the game-tying run scored. The game wouldn't be tied for long.

Svekis' homer in the second inning was the Ducks' only hit of the game until Mack led off the bottom of the sixth with a perfect bunt single. Mary Iakopo followed with a walk to put runners at first and second for Svekis. The senior worked a long at-bat and on the 10th pitch, smashed her second home run of the game deep to left. Shannon Rhodes followed a solo home run in the next at-bat to give the Ducks a 5-1 lead going to the seventh.

Arizona hit two two-out doubles in the seventh to add a run but Kleist got a strikeout to end the game.

AT THE PLATE: Svekis went 2-for-2 with two homers, four RBIs and a walk to lead the Ducks on Friday night. She homered twice off of Arizona pitcher Taylor McQuillin last year as well in a 10-7 loss in Tucson. In her last six plate appearances against McQuillin, Svekis is 4-for-4 with four home runs and two walks. Mack and Rhodes had the only other hits for the Ducks, both in the decisive sixth inning. Svekis now has a team-high 11 home runs on the season while Rhodes has eight, tied with DJ Sanders for the second most on the roster.

SVEKIS QUOTE
On her three-run home run in the sixth - "It definitely did feel good because this year, Kleist has taken some losses that she doesn't deserve. She's pitched some great games. In those moments, I think it's important for the team to step up and have her back because she's been doing so great this year and I'm happy I could be the one to do it."

IN THE CIRCLE: Kleist (11-4) picked up the win after going the distance against the Wildcats. She allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits in seven innings with seven strikeouts and no walks. The junior right-hander has 124 strikeouts this season compared to just nine walks. Kleist has issued just one walk over her last 45 innings pitched.

UP NEXT: Oregon and Arizona meet at noon on Saturday for the second game of the three-game series.