Ducks Drop Heartbreaker in Game One of Doubleheader

Saturday, February 29

Stillwater, OK

10:00 AM

University of Oregon

16-1

Louisville

6-11

Louisville

Oregon

Ducks Drop Heartbreaker in Game One of Doubleheader

02/29/20 | Softball

Box Score Box Score - Louisville 4, Oregon 3

By: Derren Iha

STILLWATER, Okla. – Oregon dropped its first game of the season in a 4-3 heartbreaker to Louisville in its first game of a doubleheader Saturday, as the Cardinals scored two runs in the top of the seventh after the Ducks took a lead in the fifth.

The loss ended a 16-game winning streak to begin the season, the second-best start to a season in program history. The Ducks will look to bounce back in the nightcap, a top-15 showdown with No. 15 Oklahoma State, starting at approximately 3 p.m. Pacific.

How it Happened: A leadoff single put Louisville in business in the top of the seventh, and after a sacrifice bunt, Celene Funke tied things up with a triple into the right field corner. One batter later, Maddy Newman drove in the eventual game-winning run with a single to right center.

The Ducks threatened in the bottom half of the seventh, as Haley Cruse singled and moved to second on an error with two outs, but Terra McGowan flew out to deep right field to end the game.

For the first time all season, Oregon didn't strike first as Louisville put a pair on the board in the top of the third. After a one-out single, Funke turned on one and pulled a two-run shot down the right field line to make it 2-0, Cardinals.

Ariel Carlson put the Ducks on the board in the fourth, ripping an RBI double into the left center gap to score Allee Bunker, who walked with one out in the inning. The Ducks threatened to add more, with runners on first and second and just one out, but a line-drive double play ended the frame.

The top of the Oregon order came through for a pair of runs to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth. After Cruse singled to left, McGowan drove her in with a RBI double to right center, tying it up at two. One batter later, Rachel Cid put the Ducks on top with a run-scoring single back up the middle.

Notables: Cid went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored … She turned in her sixth multi-hit game of the year and has hit safely in 11 of the last 12 … Cruse finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and continues to lead the team with nine-multi-hit games … Oregon starter Brooke Yanez recorded the first seven outs of the game via strikeout, finishing with eight over four innings … Yanez, Samaria Diaz and Jordan Dail combined for 13 strikeouts, the second most in a game this year for the Ducks … It's the sixth time this year that Oregon has struck out double digit batters, already one more time than all of 2019.

On Deck: The Ducks take on No. 15 Oklahoma State in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader, starting at approximately 3 p.m. PT.