Softball Travels To Las Vegas For Rebel Classic
RECAPPING LAST WEEKEND
Oregon went 2-2 at the 10th-annual NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. The Ducks dropped a pair of games on opening day ? 4-1 to Creighton and 3-0 to No. 7 Alabama. Senior pitcher Lindsey Kontra threw five scoreless innings and struck out four batters against the Tide before being relieved by junior Amy Harris. Alabama scored three unearned runs to secure the victory as Oregon committed two errors in the game. On the second day, the Ducks rebounded with two wins ? 5-0 (nine innings) over Florida Atlantic and 3-1 over San Diego State. Harris picked up the win against Florida Atlantic, earning her first shutout of the season. Harris had a season-high nine strikeouts and gave up five hits. Against San Diego State, freshman pitcher Alicia Cook tossed a two-hitter and struck out seven batters to advance the Ducks in the silver medal bracket. Oregon’s scheduled game with South Carolina on Sunday was cancelled due to rain. Freshman left fielder Lovena Chaput finished the tournament 5-for-11 (.455) with three doubles, a home run, three RBI and a 1.000 slugging percentage.
HEAD COACH KATHY ARENDSEN (459-321 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
Illinois-Chicago: This will be Oregon’s fourth meeting with Illinois-Chicago and the first under head coach Kathy Arendsen. The Ducks are 0-3 all-time vs. the Flames. This season, Illinois-Chicago is 7-5 overall and offensively it is led by Cameron Astiazaran’s .462 batting average and seven RBI. Defensively, pitcher Mercedes Lovato is 5-0 with a 2.12 ERA.
UNLV: Oregon is 8-9 all-time vs. UNLV and most recently won 2-1 in 2004. The Rebels are 10-8 overall, led by Marissa Nichols, who is hitting .455 with four home runs, four doubles and 16 runs scored. UNLV has 15 home runs as a team. Pitcher Jacque Kerrigan has pitched 77 innings and is 8-7 with a 2.07 ERA and 68 strikeouts.
Long Beach State: Long Beach State broke into the ESPN.com poll at No. 25 after impressive wins over then-No. 3 Texas and then-No. 16 Texas A&M in Palm Springs last weekend. Long Beach State is currently 9-6 overall and the Ducks are 2-3 all-time vs. the 49ers.
Oklahoma: The Sooners have won 13 in a row behind pitcher Kami Keiter. Keiter and the Sooners were declared champions of last weekend’s NFCA Leadoff Classic. Keiter earned Big 12 player of the week honors and has pitched 35 consecutive scoreless innings. She has won her last four games by shutout.
Drake: Drake is 8-1 after winning two preseason tournaments. Three players were named to the all-tournament team at last week’s Holiday Inn Select Tulsa Festival.
COOK COMING ON
Local product Alicia Cook (Elmira) made her Howe Field debut against Portland State Feb. 20 and struck out 12 batters ? the third-best single-game outing in school history ? en route to a 2-1 victory. Last weekend, Cook allowed just two hits in a 3-1 win over San Diego State and currently leads the team with 32 strikeouts.
CHAPUT LEADING OFF
Freshman left fielder Lovena Chaput has settled into the Ducks’ lead off spot and is currently leading the team in doubles (6) and also has two home runs and a triple. The Tualatin native is hitting .333 and is currently in the midst of a three game hitting streak. She has doubled in Oregon’s last three games.
POWER HITTER?
Sophomore Suzie Barnes hit her first career home run against Riverside Feb. 12. Later that night, Barnes hit the go-ahead home run against Texas State and on Feb. 13, Barnes hit a two-run home run vs. Oklahoma State. Against Portland State, Barnes’ triple in the second inning put Oregon ahead 2-0. Later, with the game tied, 2-2, Barnes hit a two-run home run to put Oregon ahead. Barnes currently leads the team with four home runs and 27 total bases. She also leads the team in runs scored (10), RBI (9) and slugging percentage (.794).
THE STREAK CONTINUES
Breanne Sabol started her 133rd consecutive game at shortstop vs. San Diego State last Saturday. She is currently hitting .395 and has six stolen bases.
ALSO STREAKING
Sophomore Kristi Leiter has had a hit in five consecutive games...freshman T.J. Eadus has had a hit in three consecutive games.
TOPPS DOES HER PART
Sophomore Ann Marie Topps has come off the bench as a pinch hitter in five of Oregon’s 10 games. Last weekend, Topps earned the start as Oregon’s designated player and in 12 at bats this season, Topps has five hits (.417), two runs scored and an RBI.
FRESHMAN CONTRIBUTIONS
Oregon’s freshman are doing their part this season. Duck freshman are currently hitting .351 (33-of-94) and have accounted for 18 runs, 11 doubles and 19 RBI.
