Friday, April 21
Eugene, OR
7:30 PM
University of Oregon
29-11, 0
8
vs
0
Arizona
25-19, 0
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2
3
4
5
6
R
H
E
Arizona
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
Oregon
2
0
0
2
3
1
8
10
1
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Ducks Walk Off Wildcats In Six
04/21/23 | Softball
Morgan Scott threw a shutout and the No. 17 Ducks got contributions up and down the lineup in Friday's series opener.
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon's win streak is up to a season high-tying seven games after the No. 17 Ducks run-ruled visiting Arizona on Friday, 8-0, before 1,737 fans at Jane Sanders Stadium.
Morgan Scott threw a six-inning shutout, Terra McGowan hit her team-high 11th homer and KK Humphreys ended the game with a bases-loaded single in the sixth for the walk-off win. Hanna Delgado and Kai Luschar combined for five hits and five runs at the top of the UO order, and Karissa Ornelas added a two-run, pinch-hit single with two outs in the fourth inning.
"I think we're playing really well," McGowan said. "I think you're seeing a lot of clutch moments from a lot of different people, and that's a sign of a good team."
Not only did the Ducks extend their win streak to seven, they improved to 5-1 in the opening game of conference series this season. For a team with a stated goal of approaching each weekend like an NCAA Super Regional, that's a promising trend.
"What's been really big for this team is, we try to treat every weekend like postseason," McGowan said. "And the most important game in the postseason is the first one. So that's really been our goal, and I'm hoping we continue that trend in the postseason."
How It Happened: Scott never faced more than four batters in an inning, and she was staked to an early lead after pitching a 1-2-3 first. Delgado and Luschar found holes in the infield defense to lead off the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles, and two groundball outs brought Delgado home. Luschar then scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.
Scott didn't allow a hit until the third, and she stranded that runner before throwing a clean fourth. The Ducks then doubled their lead in the bottom of the fourth when Ornelas came up with the bases loaded and two outs, and singled past the first baseman to make it 4-0.
"I think it's one of the toughest things to do, is to come off the bench and have a pinch hit," UO coach Melyssa Lombardi said. "And she was locked in and ready to go. She got her pitch, being a lefty to be able to hit it to the right side and open things up."
After Scott stranded another runner in the top of the fifth, Delgado and Luschar again reached to lead off the bottom of the inning. McGowan came to the plate with one out and blasted a home run to left-center field for a 7-0 lead. A double and two walks loaded the bases, and with two out pinch hitter Katelyn Howard had a chance to end the game in the fifth, but her line drive was hit right at the left fielder and play continued.
Arizona's only runner to get as far as third base did so in the sixth, on a single, an error and a passed ball. But Scott set down three straight to end the inning and strand that runner. Once more, Delgado and Luschar both reached to lead off the sixth, and a one-out walk loaded the bases. Humphreys came up with two out, and she lofted an opposite-field single over the second baseman to end the game.
Notable: Oregon football coach Dan Lanning threw out the game's ceremonial first pitch. … The Ducks previously won seven straight during a stretch of nonconference play in mid-February. … Ornelas now has four hits with six RBIs as a pinch-hitter this season. …
Delgado and Humphreys each extended her hitting streak to seven games. … Luschar, who was used exclusively as a pinch runner until April 1 due to a hand injury, is now 14-of-24 since being cleared to hit in games. Friday's three-hit game was her third in the Ducks' last seven games.
Quotable:
Senior pitcher Morgan Scott on what was working for her Friday
"I felt completely in control of all of it. Kind of throughout the week, it gets to the point where I don't throw as much throughout the week, which, I like that because I feel like I'll have more command over the weekend."
Scott on whether she prefers a run-rule win or to get another inning in the circle
"It's a toss up. I love when our offense gets the hits; I would have loved for us to end early (in the fifth), especially with Kate walking it off. But at the same time, I have the mentality I'm always gonna want the ball, no matter what."
Up Next: The second game of the series is scheduled for Saturday (4 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
Morgan Scott threw a six-inning shutout, Terra McGowan hit her team-high 11th homer and KK Humphreys ended the game with a bases-loaded single in the sixth for the walk-off win. Hanna Delgado and Kai Luschar combined for five hits and five runs at the top of the UO order, and Karissa Ornelas added a two-run, pinch-hit single with two outs in the fourth inning.
"I think we're playing really well," McGowan said. "I think you're seeing a lot of clutch moments from a lot of different people, and that's a sign of a good team."
Not only did the Ducks extend their win streak to seven, they improved to 5-1 in the opening game of conference series this season. For a team with a stated goal of approaching each weekend like an NCAA Super Regional, that's a promising trend.
"What's been really big for this team is, we try to treat every weekend like postseason," McGowan said. "And the most important game in the postseason is the first one. So that's really been our goal, and I'm hoping we continue that trend in the postseason."
How It Happened: Scott never faced more than four batters in an inning, and she was staked to an early lead after pitching a 1-2-3 first. Delgado and Luschar found holes in the infield defense to lead off the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles, and two groundball outs brought Delgado home. Luschar then scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.
Scott didn't allow a hit until the third, and she stranded that runner before throwing a clean fourth. The Ducks then doubled their lead in the bottom of the fourth when Ornelas came up with the bases loaded and two outs, and singled past the first baseman to make it 4-0.
"I think it's one of the toughest things to do, is to come off the bench and have a pinch hit," UO coach Melyssa Lombardi said. "And she was locked in and ready to go. She got her pitch, being a lefty to be able to hit it to the right side and open things up."
After Scott stranded another runner in the top of the fifth, Delgado and Luschar again reached to lead off the bottom of the inning. McGowan came to the plate with one out and blasted a home run to left-center field for a 7-0 lead. A double and two walks loaded the bases, and with two out pinch hitter Katelyn Howard had a chance to end the game in the fifth, but her line drive was hit right at the left fielder and play continued.
Arizona's only runner to get as far as third base did so in the sixth, on a single, an error and a passed ball. But Scott set down three straight to end the inning and strand that runner. Once more, Delgado and Luschar both reached to lead off the sixth, and a one-out walk loaded the bases. Humphreys came up with two out, and she lofted an opposite-field single over the second baseman to end the game.
Notable: Oregon football coach Dan Lanning threw out the game's ceremonial first pitch. … The Ducks previously won seven straight during a stretch of nonconference play in mid-February. … Ornelas now has four hits with six RBIs as a pinch-hitter this season. …
Delgado and Humphreys each extended her hitting streak to seven games. … Luschar, who was used exclusively as a pinch runner until April 1 due to a hand injury, is now 14-of-24 since being cleared to hit in games. Friday's three-hit game was her third in the Ducks' last seven games.
Quotable:
Senior pitcher Morgan Scott on what was working for her Friday
"I felt completely in control of all of it. Kind of throughout the week, it gets to the point where I don't throw as much throughout the week, which, I like that because I feel like I'll have more command over the weekend."
Scott on whether she prefers a run-rule win or to get another inning in the circle
"It's a toss up. I love when our offense gets the hits; I would have loved for us to end early (in the fifth), especially with Kate walking it off. But at the same time, I have the mentality I'm always gonna want the ball, no matter what."
Up Next: The second game of the series is scheduled for Saturday (4 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Scott, Morgan (9-4)
L: Netz, Devyn (12-13)
Batting:
2B: Daniell, Alyssa 1
HR: McGowan, Terra 1
RBI: McGowan, Terra 4 ; Humphreys, KK 1 ; Ornelas, Karissa 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Delgado, Hanna 3 ; Luschar, Kai 2 ; McGowan, Terra 1 ; Daniell, Alyssa 1 ; Humphreys, KK 1
HBP: Daniell, Alyssa 1 ; Humphreys, KK 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
lf/dp
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
cf/lf
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
RHP
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