Dail Deals, Bats Come Through in Win Over Missouri

Saturday, February 9

Tempe, AZ

8:00 AM

University of Oregon

3-0

Missouri

2-1

OREGON

Mizzou

Dail Deals, Bats Come Through in Win Over Missouri

02/09/19 | Softball

Box Score Box: Oregon 6, Mizzou 1

By: Nate Krueger

TEMPE, Ariz. – Behind a complete-game effort from sophomore Jordan Dail and a disciplined approach at the plate, the Oregon softball team improved to 3-0 on Saturday morning with a 4-1 win over Missouri at the Tempe Sports Complex.

Dail allowed just one run over seven innings to earn her third win in as many games, and the No. 25 Ducks tallied seven hits and nine walks while capitalizing on some mistakes by the Tigers (2-1) to back their sophomore lefty.

Oregon will be back in action at 4 p.m. PT Saturday against Bradley in its second game of the day and fourth of the Kajikawa Classic.

How it Happened: Both teams put multiple runners on through each of the first two innings, but neither were able to cash in a run. Dail ended the first with a strikeout to leave two runners in scoring position, and then fielded her position to end the second with a runner on second.

The top of the Ducks' order got things going in the third, with Haley Cruse and Allee Bunker notching back-to-back singles and Rachel Cid advancing them with a sacrifice bunt. April Utecht opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly, and Shaye Bowden continued her hot start to the season with an RBI single to make it 2-0, Oregon.

After Dail struck out the side in the bottom of the fourth, the Ducks loaded the bases in the top of the fifth and tacked onto their lead on a sacrifice fly by Lexi Wagner. A wild pitch moved two runners into scoring position, and freshman Annalisa Williamson made it 4-0 with an RBI fielder's choice. Missouri threatened in the bottom half with a single and stolen base, but Utecht threw a runner out trying to steal third to end the frame and keep the Tigers off the board.

Missouri got on the board in the sixth via a solo home run and then put a runner in scoring position, but Dail retired the next two batters to limit the damage to one run and keep Oregon's lead at 4-1.

The Ducks took advantage of a Tigers miscue in the seventh to extend their lead back to four, with Hannah Galey ripping a one-out double to left and then scoring on an error that would have ended the inning. A walk and another error loaded the bases, and Cid brought in another insurance run with an RBI walk. Dail retired the Tigers in order in the bottom half to secure the victory.

At the Plate: Bunker was 2-for-4 at the dish, with five other Ducks tallying one hit apiece. Utecht, Bowden, Wagner and Williamson each recorded an RBI, and Cid drew three walks to lead Oregon's patient approach at the plate. Cruse and Wagner each walked twice.

In the Circle: Dail went the distance for the first time as a Duck, striking out six while surrendering just six hits and two walks.

What it Means: The Ducks, who feature 14 newcomers and 10 freshmen after an offseason of transition, are off to a 3-0 start under new coach Melyssa Lombardi and picked up a quality win over a Missouri team that run-ruled both Utah and No. 12 Arizona State on Thursday. Oregon will face Missouri twice more this season, on April 6-7 in Columbia.