Strong Field Awaits Ducks at Mary Nutter Classic
02/18/20 | Softball
THIS WEEK
One of just five remaining unbeaten teams in the nation, Oregon will head down to Cathedral City, Calif. for five games in three days at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Feb. 20-22. The Ducks will play doubleheaders on Thursday and Friday followed by a single game Saturday, highlighted by three matchups against Power 5 schools. Oregon played in the event each of the last two years, going 4-2 in 2019 and 3-2 in 2018.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Thursday, Feb. 20 vs. Bethune-Cookman – 10 a.m.; Watch | Live Stats
Thursday, Feb. 20 vs. Mississippi State – 1 p.m.; Watch | Live Stats
Friday, Feb. 21 vs. Notre Dame – 3 p.m.; Watch | Live Stats
Friday, Feb. 21 vs. Idaho State - 5 p.m.; Watch | Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 22 vs. Northwestern - 9:30 a.m.; Watch | Live Stats
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
Currently fifth in the nation in runs per game, Oregon continued its hot start to the season offensively with another strong output over the weekend at the Houston Classic. The Ducks hit .318 as a team over the four games, with nine home runs and 36 RBIs, scoring 40 runs over the weekend. Oregon routed Dayton, 18-3, in game one of a doubleheader Saturday behind an 11-run fourth inning. The Ducks then hit four home runs in a 9-4 win over Houston in the doubleheader nightcap and turned in another nine-run performance vs. the Flyers on Sunday. Oregon was led offensively by Rachel Cid, who earned Pac-12 Player of the Week honors after hitting .467 with two homers and eight RBIs in the four games.
STARTING STRONG
Oregon has had a tradition of getting its season off to a fast start over the last few years, starting 9-0 for the third time in the last four years. The Ducks also started 9-0 in 2018 and won a record 35-straight games to start the 2017 season.
GOING TO WORK EARLY
Through nine games, Oregon has made a habit of getting off to fast starts, outscoring opponents 31-0 over the first two innings of games. The Ducks have outscored opponents 12-0 in the first inning and 19-0 in the second inning and have led after two innings in each of the first nine games. Additionally, Oregon holds a 19-0 scoring advantage in the fourth inning while pitching staff has only given up runs in the third and fifth innings this year.
DUCKS IN THE POLLS
Following a perfect 9-0 start to the season, Oregon moved up six spots to No. 15 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches' Poll. The Ducks are one of just five remaining unbeaten teams in the nation (UCLA, Texas, Michigan, SIU Edwardsville) and are the only team in the top 15 that began the season unranked. Oregon is ranked as high as No. 10 (Softball America) and has moved into the top 20 in each of the four major polls (No. 12 - D1 Softball, No. 17 ESPN/USA Softball).
WEEKLY HONORS ROLL IN
Following each of the first two weeks of the season, Oregon has had a player earn either a national or conference weekly honor. Junior pitcher Brooke Yanez was named the NFCA National Pitcher of the Week after going 3-0 with 25 strikeouts, highlighted by a 17-strikeout game, in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge on opening weekend. Sophomore third baseman Rachel Cid then secured Pac-12 Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career coming off of a weekend at the Houston Classic in which she paced the Ducks' offense by hitting .467 with two home runs and eight RBIs.
RUNS, RUNS AND MORE RUNS
Led by a pair of 18-run performances, Oregon is currently fifth in the nation in runs scored per game at 8.22 per contest. The Ducks have had two monster games offensively in the first two weeks of the season, putting up 18 runs each against George Washington (Feb. 7) and Dayton (Feb. 15). The Ducks routed George Washington, 18-0, in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge then rolled past Dayton, 18-3 in the Houston Classic. In both games, Oregon was fueled by an inning in which they scored 10-plus runs, plating 10 in the second inning vs. George Washington and 11 in the fourth inning of the Dayton game. It's just the second time in program history that an Oregon team has scored 18-plus runs in multiple games in an entire season, with the other coming in 2016. The Ducks also capped off the Houston Classic with a pair of nine-run performances against Dayton and Houston.
RUNS AT A PREMIUM
Through nine games, Oregon pitching has given up just 1.22 runs per game and 11 runs total, posting a miniscule 1.35 ERA in 57.0 innings pitched. The Ducks have posted four shutouts and are tied for the conference lead, allowing just 28 hits while holding opponents to a .146 batting average. Oregon's four shutouts through nine games are the most since 2015 over that stretch to start a season. Additionally, three pitchers are in the top 10 in the conference in hits allowed per seven innings with Samaria Diaz in second, Brooke Yanez in fifth and Jordan Dail in 10th.
One of just five remaining unbeaten teams in the nation, Oregon will head down to Cathedral City, Calif. for five games in three days at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Feb. 20-22. The Ducks will play doubleheaders on Thursday and Friday followed by a single game Saturday, highlighted by three matchups against Power 5 schools. Oregon played in the event each of the last two years, going 4-2 in 2019 and 3-2 in 2018.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Thursday, Feb. 20 vs. Bethune-Cookman – 10 a.m.; Watch | Live Stats
Thursday, Feb. 20 vs. Mississippi State – 1 p.m.; Watch | Live Stats
Friday, Feb. 21 vs. Notre Dame – 3 p.m.; Watch | Live Stats
Friday, Feb. 21 vs. Idaho State - 5 p.m.; Watch | Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 22 vs. Northwestern - 9:30 a.m.; Watch | Live Stats
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
Currently fifth in the nation in runs per game, Oregon continued its hot start to the season offensively with another strong output over the weekend at the Houston Classic. The Ducks hit .318 as a team over the four games, with nine home runs and 36 RBIs, scoring 40 runs over the weekend. Oregon routed Dayton, 18-3, in game one of a doubleheader Saturday behind an 11-run fourth inning. The Ducks then hit four home runs in a 9-4 win over Houston in the doubleheader nightcap and turned in another nine-run performance vs. the Flyers on Sunday. Oregon was led offensively by Rachel Cid, who earned Pac-12 Player of the Week honors after hitting .467 with two homers and eight RBIs in the four games.
STARTING STRONG
Oregon has had a tradition of getting its season off to a fast start over the last few years, starting 9-0 for the third time in the last four years. The Ducks also started 9-0 in 2018 and won a record 35-straight games to start the 2017 season.
GOING TO WORK EARLY
Through nine games, Oregon has made a habit of getting off to fast starts, outscoring opponents 31-0 over the first two innings of games. The Ducks have outscored opponents 12-0 in the first inning and 19-0 in the second inning and have led after two innings in each of the first nine games. Additionally, Oregon holds a 19-0 scoring advantage in the fourth inning while pitching staff has only given up runs in the third and fifth innings this year.
DUCKS IN THE POLLS
Following a perfect 9-0 start to the season, Oregon moved up six spots to No. 15 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches' Poll. The Ducks are one of just five remaining unbeaten teams in the nation (UCLA, Texas, Michigan, SIU Edwardsville) and are the only team in the top 15 that began the season unranked. Oregon is ranked as high as No. 10 (Softball America) and has moved into the top 20 in each of the four major polls (No. 12 - D1 Softball, No. 17 ESPN/USA Softball).
WEEKLY HONORS ROLL IN
Following each of the first two weeks of the season, Oregon has had a player earn either a national or conference weekly honor. Junior pitcher Brooke Yanez was named the NFCA National Pitcher of the Week after going 3-0 with 25 strikeouts, highlighted by a 17-strikeout game, in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge on opening weekend. Sophomore third baseman Rachel Cid then secured Pac-12 Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career coming off of a weekend at the Houston Classic in which she paced the Ducks' offense by hitting .467 with two home runs and eight RBIs.
RUNS, RUNS AND MORE RUNS
Led by a pair of 18-run performances, Oregon is currently fifth in the nation in runs scored per game at 8.22 per contest. The Ducks have had two monster games offensively in the first two weeks of the season, putting up 18 runs each against George Washington (Feb. 7) and Dayton (Feb. 15). The Ducks routed George Washington, 18-0, in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge then rolled past Dayton, 18-3 in the Houston Classic. In both games, Oregon was fueled by an inning in which they scored 10-plus runs, plating 10 in the second inning vs. George Washington and 11 in the fourth inning of the Dayton game. It's just the second time in program history that an Oregon team has scored 18-plus runs in multiple games in an entire season, with the other coming in 2016. The Ducks also capped off the Houston Classic with a pair of nine-run performances against Dayton and Houston.
RUNS AT A PREMIUM
Through nine games, Oregon pitching has given up just 1.22 runs per game and 11 runs total, posting a miniscule 1.35 ERA in 57.0 innings pitched. The Ducks have posted four shutouts and are tied for the conference lead, allowing just 28 hits while holding opponents to a .146 batting average. Oregon's four shutouts through nine games are the most since 2015 over that stretch to start a season. Additionally, three pitchers are in the top 10 in the conference in hits allowed per seven innings with Samaria Diaz in second, Brooke Yanez in fifth and Jordan Dail in 10th.
Players Mentioned
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