No. 11 Softball Hosts No. 3 UCLA, No. 7 Washington In Pac-10 Action
COMING UP
The homestand continues
The University of Oregon softball team (34-12 overall, 8-4 Pac-10) is coming off a huge home weekend and will look to continue its winning ways at Howe Field this weekend. The Ducks host UCLA (31-7, 4-6) Friday with the two teams 1-1 vs. each other this season. On Saturday and Sunday, Oregon looks to defeat Washington (32-11, 6-4) at home for the first time since 1998. The Ducks are currently tied for second in the conference. RECAPPING LAST WEEK RADIO BROADCAST Oregon’s games vs. Washington on Saturday and Sunday will be broadcast on 1320 AM with Ray Martin providing play-by-play. PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATION
Oregon catcher Jenn Poore was 2-for-5 (.400) as the Ducks went 2-1, including a 1-0 victory over No. 1 Arizona. Poore hit a lead off home run against Arizona on Friday prompting Arizona to walk her in her next two at bats. On Sunday, Poore led off with a single and drew two intentional walks her next two at-bats. She finished the two games against Arizona 2-for-2 with a home run, three walks and a sacrifice. For the weekend, Poore had five total bases, a 1.000 slugging percentage and a .667 on base percentage.
HEAD COACH KATHY ARENDSEN
Now a member of eight different Halls of Fame, second-year head coach Kathy Arendsen brought her success as both a player and a coach straight to Oregon when she led the Ducks to a 10-11 (T3) Pac-10 record in her first season, which is Oregon’s highest finish since the 1990 season. This season the Ducks got off to their best conference start since 1998. The Zealand, Mich., native returned the Ducks to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2000 and the team went 5-2, falling one game short of a trip to the Women’s College World Series. With its hot start in 2004, Oregon will make its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Regionals. Her presence at Oregon was felt immediately as Oregon knocked off four ranked opponents in the 2003 preseason and was 16-13 vs. top-25 foes despite being picked to finish last in the Pac-10 Conference. Along the way, senior Andrea Vidlund earned third-team all-america honors and three players earned Pac-10 player of the week honors. The Ducks have had three player of the week honors again in 2004 and are currentlyArendsen was inducted into the Michigan Hall of Fame and is the only American in the class of 19 who will be inducted into the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame on Nov. 11, 2004.
ASSISTANT COACHES J. GAUDREAU, MIKE WHITE
Gaudreau is entering her 11th season as Arendsen’s top assistant. In her first season with the Ducks, Oregon’s improved offense was evident as the Ducks owned the top five spots in hits at the NCAA Regional, had the highest individual batting average, second-highest team hitting percentage, scored more runs than any other team and had the highest individual home run output at the tournament (4 by Andrea Vidlund). The Ducks hit 43 home runs to their opponents 35 and held the advantage in average, hits, runs scored, RBI and slugging percentage over their 2003 opponents. In his first season with the Ducks, White helped guide a young pitching staff to great success as freshman Amy Harris finished the season with the single-season strikeout record (180) and junior Anissa Meashintubby picked up her first two career Pac-10 wins in back-to-back games. And senior Andrea Vidlund, who did not pitch a single game in 2002, came back last season to lead the nation in saves (11). Oregon’s team ERA improved from 3.01 in 2002 to 2.12 ? its lowest ERA since 1994 ? in White’s first season and the Ducks had 347 strikeouts last season compared to 223 in 2002. As a player, White has won five ASA national titles and five ISC World Club Championships while being selected to nine ASA All-American and nine ISC All-World teams. He was the 2002 ASA male player of the year in men’s fastpitch.
AT HOME VS. UCLA LAST SEASON
home last season, winning 5-4 on Saturday before falling 9-3 on Sunday. Departed senior Andrea Vidlund hit three home runs in the two games. In the win, Vidlund and fellow senior Alyssa Laux each homered and catcher Jenn Poore was 1-for-2. Harris picked up Saturday’s win while Vidlund got the save.AT HOME VS. WASHINGTON LAST SEASON
Oregon managed just three hits against the Huskies in a 9-0, five-inning loss at Howe Field last season. Erin Goodell and Beth Boskovich each accounted for one of the Ducks’ hits. Washington scored five runs in the fifth inning to cut the game short. Washington pitcher Tia Bollenger didn’t walk any in the win while Harris took the loss for Oregon.
A LOOK AT UCLA
After starting conference play 0-4, the Bruins have won four of their last six games with all four wins coming at home vs. top-15 teams. The team is second in the conference in average (.294) and ERA (1.12). Steph Ramos leads the team with a .412 average while Caitlin Benyi is second in the conference with 15 home runs.
A LOOK AT WASHINGTON
Unlike UCLA, Washington started the conference on a tear, going 4-0 before losing in Seattle to Oregon. Washington lost all three games last weekend and now stands at 6-4. The Huskies lead the Pac-10 with 235 runs led by Kristen Rivera, who his hitting .445 with 46 RBI and a conference-best 17 home runs.
