Tournament Swing Continues For No. 13 Softball
RECAPPING LAST WEEKEND
For the second weekend in a row, rain limited the number of games Oregon played. The first day of the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., was cancelled, including the Ducks’ matchup with No. 15 Baylor. On Saturday, play resumed and Oregon defeated UC Riverside 11-3 and Texas State, 7-1. Against the Highlanders, Oregon senior Ani Nyhus (1-0) got her first start (and victory) of the season and sophomore Suzie Barnes hit her first career home run, finishing the game 3-for-3 with four runs scored and two RBI. Freshman Lovena Chaput’s offense was also impressive as she went 2-for-2 with three runs scored, a double and a triple. Against Texas State, Oregon trailed 1-0 for most of the game, but in the sixth inning, Chaput’s lead-off home run tied the game and Barnes’ home run in the Ducks’ very next at bat put Oregon ahead 2-1. Oregon scored four runs in the inning and added three more in the seventh to win impressively. Pitcher Amy Harris got the win. On Sunday, No. 8 Michigan defeated the Ducks 9-0 before Oklahoma State used a walk-off home run to win the second game of the day, 3-2. The Cowgirls had led 2-0 in the game, but Barnes’ offense came to the rescue again as she hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to tie the game. But Oklahoma State second baseman Jennie Killman’s home run in the bottom of the seventh secured the victory.
HEAD COACH KATHY ARENDSEN (456-318 overall, 79-40 Pac-10)
Third-year head coach Kathy Arendsen has returned the Duck softball program back to a competitor within the Pac-10 as well as on the national level. In Arendsen’s first season, the Ducks finished T3rd in the Pac-10 with a 10-11 conference mark ? their highest league finish since 1990. Last season, the Ducks won 10 conference games again and made their second straight trip to the NCAA Regional tournament. The memorable 2003 season ended with a 37-19 overall record and Arendsen guided the Ducks to their most Pac-10 wins since1998, back-to-back home wins over a conference opponent for the first time since 1998 and a sweep of Washington for the first time since 1993. There was more to come in 2004 as the team defeated every Pac-10 team for the first time since 1998. Oregon’s 1-0 win over No. 1 Arizona marked the first time in school history that the Ducks defeated a top-ranked team and the squad won the series over Washington for the second straight year. It marked the first time in school history that Oregon won the series over the Huskies in back to back seasons. Following the 2004 season, several players were honored for their play. Pitcher Ani Nyhus earned first-team all-Pac-10 accolades while catcher Jenn Poore earned second-team all-conference honors. Beth Boskovich and Ashley Richards were honorable mention selections and the four were named to the NCAA regional all-tournament team while Poore also earned first-team Easton All-American honors. In November of 2004, Arendsen was the only American in the record class of 19 inductees to be elected into the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame. Arendsen is now a member of eight different Halls of Fame.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
UC Riverside: The Highlanders dropped to 1-8 after going 0-3 at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic. They are currently in the midst of a six-game losing streak, including an 11-3 loss to Oregon last weekend. After nine games, Jessica Black leads the offense, currently hitting .417 while pitcher Sara Radabaugh has taken a majority of the innings (41.2) and has a 4.87 ERA.
University of San Diego: After a 2-0 loss to San Diego State last week, the Toreros are 1-2 on the season. Sara Mason and Ashlee Nunes lead the team offensively, hitting .429 and .400, respecitively. Pitcher Erin Harmonson is 1-1 on the season with six strikeouts and a 1.00 ERA. This will be Oregon’s first-ever meeting with the University of San Diego.
Portland State: The Vikings are 0-8 against Oregon since the arrival of Kathy Arendsen. This season, Portland Stat1-3 heading into the 145th meeting between the two schools. Laura Segall is hitting .357 to lead the Viking offense and defensively, pitcher Michelle Hext as the lone win.
