Jane Comes Alive As Ducks Sweep Michigan

Saturday, April 5

Eugene, OR

3:00 PM

University of Oregon

34-3, 0

Michigan

27-11, 0

Michigan

Oregon

Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com

04/05/25 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score: Oregon 5, Michigan 4 Box Score: Oregon 9, Michigan 1 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

Oregon won Saturday's first game in dramatic fashion and followed it with a run-rule victory over the Wolverines.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — With Oregon rallying in the seventh inning of game one during Saturday's doubleheader against Michigan, UO coach Melyssa Lombardi took a moment to look up and take in the cauldron of noise that was bubbling over in the stands of Jane Sanders Stadium. A smile crept across her face.

Moments later the No. 6 Ducks (35-3, 9-1 Big Ten) finished off a 5-4 comeback victory over the Wolverines, the beginning of a doubleheader sweep Saturday and series sweep of Michigan over the weekend. Oregon capped the day with a 9-1 victory in five innings, to the delight of that crowd of 2,218 that lifted the UO softball team to victory in Saturday's opener.

"We needed our fans to just step up and make it such an uncomfortable environment, and they did exactly that," Lombardi said. "What I felt today is what I felt the first time I ever came here — it was just tough. What a tough environment, and that's what we need."

The weekend sweep began with a 3-2 win Friday in which the Ducks scored the tiebreaking run in the sixth inning. Saturday's opener featured more drama, with Oregon rallying for three runs in that seventh inning to come from behind, before a seven-run fourth inning turned the nightcap into a blowout.

"In order for us to get where we want to go, we've got to play series like that and find a way to come out on top," Lombardi said. "All three games looked totally different. But to understand what is being asked of us for each game, and to know that we're never out of the game — I don't care what the score is — as long as we have innings, we have outs, we're never out of it. This team shows that they know how to respond and come back and put runs on the board when we're down."

Kedre Luschar had two hits with two RBIs in the opener, including the walk-off single to score the winning run from third base — her sister, Kai Luschar. That made a winner of Elise Sokolsky (11-1) after five scoreless innings of relief, while in the nightcap Lyndsey Grein (19-1) went all five innings without allowing an earned run and both Dezianna Patmon and Stefini Ma'ake drove in three runs.

How It Happened (Game One) — Oregon 5, Michigan 4: The comeback in the opener was required despite the Ducks jumping out to an early lead. Kai Luschar walked to lead off the game, advanced when Paige Sinicki was hit by a pitch and took third on a double steal. Katie Flannery's sacrifice fly made it 1-0, and Kedre Luschar followed with a single to score Sinicki.

Staci Chambers got the start in the circle for the Ducks, and after facing the minimum in the first she allowed a two-out, two-run double in the second. She left after allowing a two-run homer in the third, with the leadoff runner reaching on an error.

The score remained 4-2 into the seventh. Sokolsky stranded two runners in scoring position in the fifth, setting the stage for Oregon's comeback.

The rally in the seventh started with Braiesey Rosa being hit by a pitch, and being replaced by pinch runner Elyse Kresho. Kaylynn Jones singled, Kai Luschar was hit by a pitch to lead the bases and the Jane came alive.

"I've been talking about (this being) the lion's den for a long time, but today our fans were unbelievable," Lombardi said. "They helped us get that win. They were a huge part of that win."

Sinicki hit into a fielder's choice to score Kresho and make it 4-3. The Wolverines walked Rylee McCoy to load the bases, and a wild pitch brought Jones sliding into home head first with the tying run.

Two batters later, Kedre Luschar had a chance to end the game, with her sister cheering her on from third base. A single up the middle by one Luschar drove in the other, and they had delivered in the clutch.

"I think it's just really trusting the process," Kedre Luschar said. "That's what we talk about a lot, just breathing and staying calm, knowing that nobody's gonna beat me."

How It Happened (Game Two) — Oregon 9, Michigan 1: The bats woke up earlier in Saturday's second game for the Ducks. Grein bought them some time, retiring nine in a row after a leadoff single to open the game. And in the bottom of the third, the Ducks pounced.

Oregon loaded the bases with one out, but a fielder's choice gave Michigan the second out of the inning at home plate and kept the game scoreless — momentarily. Patmon then drove a single down the left-field line, and both McCoy and Remmington Hewitt scored to make it 2-0.

Michigan got within 2-1 in the top of the fourth, an unearned run that saw Oregon's Gold Glove shortstop Sinicki injured on the play. Though Sinicki had to leave the game, Lombardi pronounced her "good" postgame.

The bottom of the fourth began with a walk to Jones and an infield single by Kai Luschar. They both moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Trinity Holden, who came into the day with just four official at-bats on the season.

"I think in my position, it's about just being ready for whatever role I'm going to be put into," Holden said. "I'm grateful for whatever opportunity that I get, and those opportunities are out of my control so I'm going to give it everything I have regardless."

In a repeat from the third inning, McCoy walked to load the bases and Michigan got the second out on a fielder's choice at home. But Kedre Luschar followed with a two-run single, and Patmon plated Flannery for a 5-1 lead.

Up to the plate with two runners on strode Ma'ake, who had taken two walks earlier in the game. This time she wasn't so patient, jumping on the first pitch she saw for her 13th homer of the season.

"It was just sitting one pitch, and finding it," Ma'ake said. "She never threw it to me the other times. So I was like, OK, this has got to be the one. So I was like, OK, I'm gonna sit back and bang."

When Rosa followed with a solo homer, Oregon led 9-1 and was in position for a run-rule win entering the fifth. Grein finished it off, throwing a 1-2-3 inning to cap the day.

Notable: Kai Luschar stole her 40th base of the season, one short of the UO season record. … As a team, Oregon had four steals and now has 125, one shy of the UO season record. … Ma'ake tied McCoy for the team lead in home runs with 13.

Up Next: The Ducks have a day off before hosting Loyola Marymount on Monday (noon, B1G+).