Duck Softball Concludes Pac-10 Season At UCLA, Washington
RECAPPING LAST WEEK- CALIFORNIA, STANFORD
The Ducks committed five errors vs. Stanford to open the weekend with a 5-1 loss in Stanford. Freshman Joanna Gail drove in freshman T.J. Eadus for the lone run of the game. Sophomore Kayleen Hudson was 2-for-3 in the game. On Saturday, Cal pitcher Kristina Thorson limited the Ducks to just one hit (Breanne Sabol) and Cal first baseman Julie Meyer drove in Haley Woods for the lone run of the game to lead the Bears to a 1-0 win. Oregon pitcher Amy Harris scattered just five hits in the loss. On Sunday, after a one hour and 15 minute rain delay to start the game, the Bears took a 1-0 first inning lead on a Chelsea Spencer home run and held on for the 1-0 win. Harris allowed just two other hits in the game, but suffered her second consecutive one-run loss.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
UCLA: The Bruins swept the Arizona schools last weekend, defeating Arizona 6-0 on Friday before winning 6-1 on Saturday against Arizona State and 8-0 vs. the Sun Devils on Sunday. Pitcher Lisa Dodd had two of the victories, including the win over the Wildcats as her ERA dropped to 1.65. Offensively, Caitlin Benyi leads the Bruin offense (.360 avg., eight HR, 25 RBI) and Emily Zaplatosch has a team-high 11 doubles and 34 RBI. Benyi was named Pac-10 player of the week and Dodd was named Pac-10 pitcher of the week after last weekends three victories.
Washington: The Huskies defeated Arizona State 8-0 before dropping three games to Arizona over the weekend. Catcher Kristen Rivera’s .382 average is third in the Pac-10 while Ashley Charters is fourth with a .376 average. Rivera’s .980 slugging percentage is tops in the league and she is third with 45 runs scored. Pitchers Caitlin Noble and Ashley Boek have 1.95 and 2.67 ERAs, respectively and have 379 combined strikeouts.
THE SERIES VS. UCLA: Oregon won two games off UCLA earlier this season to secure the series for the first time in school history. The Bruins still own an overall record of 55-11 against Oregon, but the Ducks are 4-4 vs. UCLA over the last eight meetings. Oregon won 4-3 in Los Angeles last season before losing 3-2 at Easton Stadium the following day. Prior to that, the Ducks had not won at Easton since 1999.
THE SERIES VS. WASHINGTON: Oregon won the season series off Washington in 2003 and 2004, but dropped a close 4-3 decision at Howe Field earlier this season. Under Coach Arendsen, the Ducks are 3-0 in Seattle and 4-3 overall vs. the Huskies. Washington is 32-11 all-time vs. Oregon.
AMY HARRIS - PAC-10 PITCHER OF THE WEEK (April 25 - may 1)
Amy Harris (Eugene) threw 28 total innings two weeks ago and had 28 strikeouts. She did not allow an earned run and walked just three batters. Harris was 2-0 on the weekend, winning twice by shutout and posted a 0.00 ERA.
MOVING UP THE CAREER LIST
Amy Harris: 6th all-time in games played (107); 7th all-time in wins (37); 8th all-time in complete games (29); 8th all-time in shutouts (8); 7th all-time in innings pitched (480); 2nd all-time in strikeouts (450)....Harris is 24 strikeouts shy of the school record.
Beth Boskovich: 10th all-time with 16 home runs; 4th all-time in walks (79)...Boskovich has 84 career runs and is six shy of breaking into the top-10...Her 23 doubles is three shy of the top-10 list.
Breanne Sabol: 11th All-time with 26 career stolen bases
ALMOST THERE
Catcher Ashley Richards has 25 career doubles and needs just one more to break the top-10.
MAKING A RUN FOR THREE STRAIGHT
Oregon has made it to the postseason in three consecutive seasons just one time in school history (1998, 1999, 2000) and will be looking to make its third straight regional appearance in 2005 after advancing in 2003 and 2004. Prior to head coach Kathy Arendsen’s arrival, the Duck program was 14-17 (.451) in their nine postseason (one CWS appearance) appearances. Under Arendsen, the Ducks are 9-4 (.692) in two postseason appearances and have advanced to the NCAA regional championship game in both seasons. With the exception of the 1989 WCWS appearance, Oregon has never advanced to the regional championship game until the arrival of Arendsen. In the two regional appearances in 2003 and 2004, Oregon had eight all-regional tournament honorees. In the prior nine appearances, the Ducks had just five players make the team (4, 1998; 1, 1999).
WHERE THE DUCKS RANK
Nationally: Amy Harris (30th, 1.17 ERA); Breanne Sabol (7th, 0.38 Sacrifice bunts per game); Team (29th, 1.69 ERA).
Pac-10 Conference: Lovena Chaput (T6th, 52 Hits); Lovena Chaput (T7th, 10 doubles), Lovena Chaput (T9th, 83 Total Bases); Beth Boskovich (T6th, 24 Walks); Breanne Sabol (3rd, 19 Stolen Bases); Amy Harris (4th, 1.17 ERA); Amy Harris (7th, 175 Strikeouts); Team (4th, 364 Hits); Team (2nd, 66 Doubles); Team (2nd, 12 Triples), Team (1st, Sac bunts); Team (2nd, Stolen Bases 67).
