Friday, April 18
Eugene, OR
7:00 PM
University of Oregon
3
vs
1
UCLA
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Grein, Sokolsky Combine to Stifle No. 6 UCLA
04/18/25 | Softball
EUGENE, Ore. – Lyndsey Grein and Elise Sokolsky combined to stifle No. 6 UCLA's high-powered offense as No. 5 Oregon took game one of a crucial late-season series, 3-1, Friday night in front of 2,373 fans at Jane Sanders Stadium.
Rylee McCoy and Kedre Luschar homered to fuel Oregon's attack.
"We talk a lot about belief in this team," said Sokolsky. "We knew we were going to win; we just didn't know how and obviously that came out. You saw Rylee hit a bomb, Kedre came out with that two-run bomb. It's really cool to be able to fall back on that and see that I had this belief."
With the win, the Ducks took a one-game lead over the Bruins for first place in the Big Ten Conference. Oregon finished the day at 13-1 in the league, while UCLA was at 12-2. The win also made Oregon the first team to clinch a spot in the Big Ten Conference Tournament.
The Ducks improved to 40-4 overall, which is their best record over 44 games in program history.
"This group just from the start was locked in and ready to go," said coach Melyssa Lombardi. "We were facing a great pitcher, so you're not always going to get what you want. You have to figure out moments in the game where you can pull a couple things together."
How It Happened: Grein struck out six of first nine batters she faced.
She then worked out of a two-out, bases-loaded situation in the top of the third by getting Megan Grant, the NCAA home run and RBI leader, to fly out to the warning track in center field.
Grein struck out pinch-hitter Sofie Mujica with a runner on base to end the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Rylee McCoy broke the 0-0 tie with her team-leading 14th home run of the year. With two outs, she lined an 0-2 pitch into the bleachers in center field for the Ducks' first run of the game.
"(McCoy)'s very mature," said Lombardi. "Since day one she has had really good at bats. She doesn't get rattled. She stays with her plan and with two strikes she found a good pitch to hit and hit it hard."
Grein worked a 1-2-3 top of the fifth before running into trouble in the sixth inning. Jordan Woolery singled and Grant was intentionally walked after a wild pitch moved the runner ahead 60 feet. Grein then got Kaniya Bragg to fly out before giving way to Sokolsky.
Sokolsky struck out the last two batters of the sixth inning to extinguish UCLA's hopes of a rally.
Luschar gave Oregon some breathing room in the bottom of the frame. Kaylynn Jones singled over shortstop in to left field. Two outs later, Luschar crushed an 0-1 pitch over the center field wall to give the Ducks a 3-0 lead.
"Me and coach have talked about my timing," said Luschar. "She just said trust your timing. So I trusted my timing and I like those ones that are a little bit elevated."
Jessica Clements homered for UCLA with two outs in the top of the seventh to make it 3-1, but Sokolsky induced a grounder to second from Savannah Pola to end the game.
"It's awesome," said Sokolsky. "We just go out there and play Oregon softball. It's not like we're exceeding expectations, we're just going out there and doing what we know how to do best. That's Oregon softball."
Grein allowed no runs on five hits and struck out eight in 5.1 innings to improve to an NCAA-best 23-1 on the season.
Sokolsky struck out two and recorded the final five outs to pick up her fourth save of the year.
Notable: McCoy's home run tied her for the UO freshman homer record with Jenn Salling, who hit 14 homers in 2007 … Luschar's home run was her fifth of the year … Paige Sinicki started her 172nd consecutive game at shortstop … Grein has yet to allow a run to a top 25 team this season in 22.0 innings pitched … The Ducks were the first team to strike out UCLA 10 times this season.
Quotable:
Pitcher Lyndsey Grein on her performance versus UCLA
"What we focus on is having a faceless opponent ... It doesn't matter who is across from us, it doesn't matter who is across the plate. I am dialed in with Emma (Cox) and I am focusing on what we are going to accomplish next. I am on the same page with coach and working with my bullpen staff and caught up with this group and my people ... I don't want to get caught up in the other team."
Up Next: Game 2 between the Ducks and Bruins is Saturday at 4 p.m. (B1G+).
Rylee McCoy and Kedre Luschar homered to fuel Oregon's attack.
"We talk a lot about belief in this team," said Sokolsky. "We knew we were going to win; we just didn't know how and obviously that came out. You saw Rylee hit a bomb, Kedre came out with that two-run bomb. It's really cool to be able to fall back on that and see that I had this belief."
With the win, the Ducks took a one-game lead over the Bruins for first place in the Big Ten Conference. Oregon finished the day at 13-1 in the league, while UCLA was at 12-2. The win also made Oregon the first team to clinch a spot in the Big Ten Conference Tournament.
The Ducks improved to 40-4 overall, which is their best record over 44 games in program history.
"This group just from the start was locked in and ready to go," said coach Melyssa Lombardi. "We were facing a great pitcher, so you're not always going to get what you want. You have to figure out moments in the game where you can pull a couple things together."
How It Happened: Grein struck out six of first nine batters she faced.
She then worked out of a two-out, bases-loaded situation in the top of the third by getting Megan Grant, the NCAA home run and RBI leader, to fly out to the warning track in center field.
Grein struck out pinch-hitter Sofie Mujica with a runner on base to end the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Rylee McCoy broke the 0-0 tie with her team-leading 14th home run of the year. With two outs, she lined an 0-2 pitch into the bleachers in center field for the Ducks' first run of the game.
"(McCoy)'s very mature," said Lombardi. "Since day one she has had really good at bats. She doesn't get rattled. She stays with her plan and with two strikes she found a good pitch to hit and hit it hard."
Grein worked a 1-2-3 top of the fifth before running into trouble in the sixth inning. Jordan Woolery singled and Grant was intentionally walked after a wild pitch moved the runner ahead 60 feet. Grein then got Kaniya Bragg to fly out before giving way to Sokolsky.
Sokolsky struck out the last two batters of the sixth inning to extinguish UCLA's hopes of a rally.
Luschar gave Oregon some breathing room in the bottom of the frame. Kaylynn Jones singled over shortstop in to left field. Two outs later, Luschar crushed an 0-1 pitch over the center field wall to give the Ducks a 3-0 lead.
"Me and coach have talked about my timing," said Luschar. "She just said trust your timing. So I trusted my timing and I like those ones that are a little bit elevated."
Jessica Clements homered for UCLA with two outs in the top of the seventh to make it 3-1, but Sokolsky induced a grounder to second from Savannah Pola to end the game.
"It's awesome," said Sokolsky. "We just go out there and play Oregon softball. It's not like we're exceeding expectations, we're just going out there and doing what we know how to do best. That's Oregon softball."
Grein allowed no runs on five hits and struck out eight in 5.1 innings to improve to an NCAA-best 23-1 on the season.
Sokolsky struck out two and recorded the final five outs to pick up her fourth save of the year.
Notable: McCoy's home run tied her for the UO freshman homer record with Jenn Salling, who hit 14 homers in 2007 … Luschar's home run was her fifth of the year … Paige Sinicki started her 172nd consecutive game at shortstop … Grein has yet to allow a run to a top 25 team this season in 22.0 innings pitched … The Ducks were the first team to strike out UCLA 10 times this season.
Quotable:
Pitcher Lyndsey Grein on her performance versus UCLA
"What we focus on is having a faceless opponent ... It doesn't matter who is across from us, it doesn't matter who is across the plate. I am dialed in with Emma (Cox) and I am focusing on what we are going to accomplish next. I am on the same page with coach and working with my bullpen staff and caught up with this group and my people ... I don't want to get caught up in the other team."
Up Next: Game 2 between the Ducks and Bruins is Saturday at 4 p.m. (B1G+).
Players Mentioned
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INF
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INF
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