Ducks Drop Rubber Match at Stanford

Sunday, March 31

Stanford, CA

1:00 PM

University of Oregon

13-18, 1-8

Stanford

25-5, 4-1

Oregon

Stanford

03/31/19 | Softball

Box Score Box: Stanford 7, Oregon 6

By: Nate Krueger

STANFORD, Calif. – The Oregon softball team built a 5-0 lead through the first three innings, but Stanford mounted a comeback to take the rubber match, 7-6, and win the three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium.

How it Happened: The Ducks (13-18, 1-8 Pac-12) got off to a hot start at the plate for the third straight day, taking a 2-0 lead on a two-out, two-run double by sophomore Shaye Bowden.

Oregon was unable to cash in a pair of base runners in the second, but the Ducks put up a three-spot in the third to build their lead to 5-0. Jasmine Sievers and Bowden got things going with a single and a double, respectively, and a wild pitch brought Sievers in from third. Freshman Rachel Cid doubled in a run with a hot shot to left field, and classmate Hannah Galey brought her around with an RBI single to left field.

Stanford got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, cutting Oregon's lead to 5-2 on a two-out, two-run homer. The Cardinal took advantage of miscues by the Ducks in the fifth to score three runs and tie the game, 5-5. A two-out error kept Stanford alive in the inning, and the Cardinal brought in two runs on an RBI double and an RBI single. A throwing error on the single put a runner at third, and a passed ball brought the tying run in to score.

The Ducks responded in the top of the sixth, retaking the lead on a two-out RBI single by senior April Utecht. Haley Cruse opened the frame with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cherish Burks, and Utecht ripped a hot shot through the left side to score Cruse and put Oregon back in front.

But Stanford came through with a response of its own in the bottom half. After back-to-back leadoff singles and a sacrifice bunt put two in scoring position, the Cardinal tied the game on a sacrifice fly. A pair of wild pitches followed, allowing the runner from second to come around to score and give Stanford a 7-6 lead. The Cardinal set down the Ducks in order in the seventh to complete the comeback and win the series.

At the Plate: Bowden went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs, raising her season average to .311 and her RBI total to a team-high 23. Utecht, Cid and Galey all finished with a hit and an RBI, and Cruse, Burks, Sievers and Allee Bunker also notched a hit apiece.

In the Circle: Jordan Dail made the start and allowed two earned runs with five strikeouts over 4.2 total innings, leaving the game in the fourth before re-entering in the sixth. Maddie MacGrandle (3-7) took the loss, allowing two earned runs with a strikeout in 1.1 innings of relief.

Notable: The Ducks outscored the Cardinal 11-0 in the first inning throughout the three-game series … Oregon outscored Stanford 19-17 overall in the series … Cruse also worked a pair of walks from the leadoff spot to increase her team-best total to 24.

Up Next: Oregon will take a break from Pac-12 play next weekend with four games in Columbia, Mo., two against Missouri and two against Pittsburgh. The Ducks beat Missouri, 6-1, at the Kajikawa Classic on opening weekend.