Saturday, May 18
Norman, OK
12:00 PM
University of Oregon
29-20
3
at
6
Oklahoma
51-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | X | 6 | 9 | 0 |
Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Loss Sets Up Elimination Game For Ducks
05/18/24 | Softball
Oregon dropped a 6-3 decision to host Oklahoma in NCAA regionals Saturday, setting up an elimination game later in the day.
NORMAN, Okla. — It's time for the Oregon softball team to survive and advance.
The Ducks (29-20) will play an NCAA regional elimination game Saturday evening after losing earlier in the day to host Oklahoma, 6-3. Oregon will face the winner of Saturday's second of three games at Love's Field, an elimination game between Boston University and Cleveland State.
After rallying for two runs in the seventh inning to close the gap on the Sooners in Saturday's opening game, the Ducks felt they would be able to carry some positive momentum into the nightcap.
"I don't have to push these guys at all — these guys understand how to take games, losses that don't go our way, and allow it to fuel us and allow us to take the information and move forward and to leave that in the past," UO coach Melyssa Lombardi said. "So we leave it in the past and we move forward. And so we're excited to move forward, to see who we're going to play next and just take it one pitch, one inning, one game at a time like we've been doing all year."
How It Happened: Oregon struck the opening blow, a one-out solo home run in the top of the first by Ariel Carlson. But that ended up being the only hit for the Ducks off OU starter Kelly Maxwell, and the Sooners gave her a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single.
The teams settled in from there, and neither threatened again until the bottom of the fourth, when Elise Sokolsky came on in place of Morgan Scott, allowed two baserunners but got out of the jam when UO shortstop Paige Sinicki ranged up the middle and made a diving grab for the third out.
"We were gritty and we got after it," Lombardi said. "We made some really good plays, made some really good pitches. But then at times it felt like pitching-wise we got behind in the count a little bit and put ourselves in a spot, or we had some opportunities to make plays that we didn't, or opportunities to clutch on offense. We just needed to have a little bit more in the three areas."
A two-run homer in the fifth chased Sokolsky, and another two-run homer in the sixth ended the relief appearance of UO freshman Taylour Spencer.
The Ducks rallied in the seventh after an OU pitching change. Emma Kauf homered to lead off the inning, and Vallery Wong followed with a double. After Regan Legg entered as a pinch runner, Katie Flannery laced a single to score Legg and make it 6-3.
At that point, OU re-inserted Maxwell, who got a strikeout followed by a double play to end the game. But Kauf said the Ducks gained some forward momentum from that last inning.
"We were talking in the locker room about what the next right thing to do right now, and that's to go and take this next game," Kauf said. "And then get another chance at Oklahoma tomorrow."
Up Next: The Ducks faced an elimination game later Saturday against either Boston University or Cleveland State.
The Ducks (29-20) will play an NCAA regional elimination game Saturday evening after losing earlier in the day to host Oklahoma, 6-3. Oregon will face the winner of Saturday's second of three games at Love's Field, an elimination game between Boston University and Cleveland State.
After rallying for two runs in the seventh inning to close the gap on the Sooners in Saturday's opening game, the Ducks felt they would be able to carry some positive momentum into the nightcap.
"I don't have to push these guys at all — these guys understand how to take games, losses that don't go our way, and allow it to fuel us and allow us to take the information and move forward and to leave that in the past," UO coach Melyssa Lombardi said. "So we leave it in the past and we move forward. And so we're excited to move forward, to see who we're going to play next and just take it one pitch, one inning, one game at a time like we've been doing all year."
How It Happened: Oregon struck the opening blow, a one-out solo home run in the top of the first by Ariel Carlson. But that ended up being the only hit for the Ducks off OU starter Kelly Maxwell, and the Sooners gave her a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single.
The teams settled in from there, and neither threatened again until the bottom of the fourth, when Elise Sokolsky came on in place of Morgan Scott, allowed two baserunners but got out of the jam when UO shortstop Paige Sinicki ranged up the middle and made a diving grab for the third out.
"We were gritty and we got after it," Lombardi said. "We made some really good plays, made some really good pitches. But then at times it felt like pitching-wise we got behind in the count a little bit and put ourselves in a spot, or we had some opportunities to make plays that we didn't, or opportunities to clutch on offense. We just needed to have a little bit more in the three areas."
A two-run homer in the fifth chased Sokolsky, and another two-run homer in the sixth ended the relief appearance of UO freshman Taylour Spencer.
The Ducks rallied in the seventh after an OU pitching change. Emma Kauf homered to lead off the inning, and Vallery Wong followed with a double. After Regan Legg entered as a pinch runner, Katie Flannery laced a single to score Legg and make it 6-3.
At that point, OU re-inserted Maxwell, who got a strikeout followed by a double play to end the game. But Kauf said the Ducks gained some forward momentum from that last inning.
"We were talking in the locker room about what the next right thing to do right now, and that's to go and take this next game," Kauf said. "And then get another chance at Oklahoma tomorrow."
Up Next: The Ducks faced an elimination game later Saturday against either Boston University or Cleveland State.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Maxwell, K. (19-2)
L: Scott, Morgan (9-9)
Batting:
2B: Wong, Vallery 1
HR: Carlson, Ariel 1 ; Kauf, Emma 1
RBI: Carlson, Ariel 1 ; Kauf, Emma 1 ; Flannery, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carlson, Ariel 1 ; Kauf, Emma 1 ; Legg, Regan 1
HBP: Daniell, Alyssa 1
Batting:
2B: Jennings, T. 1
HR: Parker, E. 1 ; Jennings, T. 1
RBI: Parker, E. 2 ; Jennings, T. 2 ; Pickering, K 1 ; Brito, A. 1
SF: Pickering, K 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Coleman, J. 1 ; Bland, M. 1 ; Parker, E. 2 ; Jennings, T. 2
CS: Coleman, J. 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballC/UTL
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