Photo by: Samuel Marshall/Eric Evans Photography
Tougher Field, Same Spirited Ducks
02/14/19 | Softball, @GoDucksMoseley
Oregon faces three ranked teams this weekend in Florida, but the Ducks intend to show the same resolve they did in a 5-0 opening weekend.
Sophomore pitcher Jordan Dail's favorite memory from the Oregon softball team's opening weekend wasn't a big strikeout, or one of the Ducks' eight home runs, or any of the five UO victories in their perfect start to the 2019 season.
Ironically enough, Dail's favorite memory involved Oregon's only error in five games — a remarkable number by a team that primarily used four freshmen around the infield. The error came in the Ducks' fifth and final game of the Kajikawa Classic, against Seattle U in the fourth inning, when third baseman Rachel Cid came charging across the infield to field a ball near the pitching circle.
"The first thing she said to me," Dail recalled, "was, 'Hey, my bad. I got your back." I said, hey, don't worry. I got your front. I'll get this next batter."
Sure enough, Dail struck out the next hitter. The runner who reached on the error did come around to score, as Seattle U rallied into the lead. But the Ducks rallied right back to win, 8-6, a game that included Cid's team-leading 10th RBI of the weekend, earning her Pac-12 freshman of the week honors.
"We ended up getting out of the inning and we were fine," Dail said. "Knowing we have each other's backs and each other's fronts, that was my personal high. Seeing the chemistry and the connection this team had."
This weekend, the Ducks will face a much tougher slate of games. But UO players said they intend to maintain the same unity and competitive spirit that fueled them last week.
"We're best friends on the field and off the field," sophomore utility player Shaye Bowden said. "And I think that's really important to the success we had (last) weekend. We trust each other, we work with each other and we build off each other. Freshman, sophomore, junior, it doesn't matter at this point because we're all one."
Oregon arrived late Wednesday in Florida for the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational, and will face three ranked teams over a four-game slate Friday and Saturday. The tournament begins for the UO contingent against No. 8 LSU on Friday (9:30 a.m. PT, SEC Network).
Bowden, who hit .500 in 18 at-bats to lead the Ducks through their first five games, said she most appreciated the "grit" and never-say-die attitude from the opening tournament. She expects more of the same this week, even though the competition will be tougher.
"I don't think that's a challenge we're going to fail at," Bowden said. "It's something that's going to help us grow, and that we're going to thrive in. That's really important, is that we keep progressing."
First-year UO coach Melyssa Lombardi said going into the Kajikawa Classic she was most interested in seeing Oregon "settle in" and overcome the nerves of the opening weekend. New pitchers Dail and fellow sophomore lefty Maddie MacGrandle perhaps had more pressure on them than anyone else, but combined to go 5-0 while overcoming 24 walks thanks to some clutch defense and timely strikeouts to escape trouble.
"We had plenty of times that we were in jams, and to me that's where you really get to see something from an athlete," Lombardi said. "Watching them get out of that jam was big."
Against the likes of LSU and No. 23 James Madison on Friday, then Florida Atlantic and No. 18 Kentucky on Saturday, Oregon figures to encounter more adversity this weekend in Florida. As the Ducks enter week two, Lombardi wants to see them "clean up some things," and make adjustments where necessary.
"I don't think any of us are worried about it," Dail said of facing a tougher field this weekend. "We're still going out there just playing the game we love and trying to make sure we do the little things right. The wins will take care of themselves; the losses, if they come, they come. … We're more worried about playing our game, and making sure we're doing the right things."
Ironically enough, Dail's favorite memory involved Oregon's only error in five games — a remarkable number by a team that primarily used four freshmen around the infield. The error came in the Ducks' fifth and final game of the Kajikawa Classic, against Seattle U in the fourth inning, when third baseman Rachel Cid came charging across the infield to field a ball near the pitching circle.
"The first thing she said to me," Dail recalled, "was, 'Hey, my bad. I got your back." I said, hey, don't worry. I got your front. I'll get this next batter."
Sure enough, Dail struck out the next hitter. The runner who reached on the error did come around to score, as Seattle U rallied into the lead. But the Ducks rallied right back to win, 8-6, a game that included Cid's team-leading 10th RBI of the weekend, earning her Pac-12 freshman of the week honors.
"We ended up getting out of the inning and we were fine," Dail said. "Knowing we have each other's backs and each other's fronts, that was my personal high. Seeing the chemistry and the connection this team had."
This weekend, the Ducks will face a much tougher slate of games. But UO players said they intend to maintain the same unity and competitive spirit that fueled them last week.
"We're best friends on the field and off the field," sophomore utility player Shaye Bowden said. "And I think that's really important to the success we had (last) weekend. We trust each other, we work with each other and we build off each other. Freshman, sophomore, junior, it doesn't matter at this point because we're all one."
Oregon arrived late Wednesday in Florida for the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational, and will face three ranked teams over a four-game slate Friday and Saturday. The tournament begins for the UO contingent against No. 8 LSU on Friday (9:30 a.m. PT, SEC Network).
Bowden, who hit .500 in 18 at-bats to lead the Ducks through their first five games, said she most appreciated the "grit" and never-say-die attitude from the opening tournament. She expects more of the same this week, even though the competition will be tougher.
"I don't think that's a challenge we're going to fail at," Bowden said. "It's something that's going to help us grow, and that we're going to thrive in. That's really important, is that we keep progressing."
First-year UO coach Melyssa Lombardi said going into the Kajikawa Classic she was most interested in seeing Oregon "settle in" and overcome the nerves of the opening weekend. New pitchers Dail and fellow sophomore lefty Maddie MacGrandle perhaps had more pressure on them than anyone else, but combined to go 5-0 while overcoming 24 walks thanks to some clutch defense and timely strikeouts to escape trouble.
"We had plenty of times that we were in jams, and to me that's where you really get to see something from an athlete," Lombardi said. "Watching them get out of that jam was big."
Against the likes of LSU and No. 23 James Madison on Friday, then Florida Atlantic and No. 18 Kentucky on Saturday, Oregon figures to encounter more adversity this weekend in Florida. As the Ducks enter week two, Lombardi wants to see them "clean up some things," and make adjustments where necessary.
"I don't think any of us are worried about it," Dail said of facing a tougher field this weekend. "We're still going out there just playing the game we love and trying to make sure we do the little things right. The wins will take care of themselves; the losses, if they come, they come. … We're more worried about playing our game, and making sure we're doing the right things."
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