Cook Earns Pitcher Of The Week Honors For Perfect Performance; Ducks Face Full Slate This Week
Oregon sophomore pitcher Alicia Cook has been named the Pac-10 Softball Pitcher of the Week for Apr. 25- May 1, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today.
The Elmira, Ore. native threw the first-ever perfect game in Oregon history against No. 6/5 Stanford on Friday, logging one strikeout in the 9-0, run-rule win. Cook retired all 15 batters she faced, snapping a five-game Conference losing streak for the Ducks. It marked Oregon’s second no-hitter this season and 14th overall. The Ducks had not run-ruled a Conference opponent since May 1, 2004, vs. Washington.
Cook also threw a complete game at Oregon State on Wednesday, striking out three and allowing only two hits in a 2-1 loss.
In 2005, Cook logged a 1.96 ERA and a 10-6 record. She gave up just one hit to lead Oregon to a 3-1 win over Louisiana-Lafayette, advancing the Ducks to the NCAA Regional Championship game.
Oregon (3-10, 21-20), plays two non-conference games against Santa Clara and Portland State before hosting UCLA and Washington this weekend.
This is Cook’s first Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week award and Oregon’s 26th weekly honor all-time, and marks the first weekly honor for the Ducks this season.
AIR TIME SENIOR SENDOFFS RESHAPING THE SCHEDULE Arizona State: The Ducks’ game vs. the Sun Devils at Howe Field on Fri., Mar. 31 was suspended in the fifth inning with the Sun Devils leading 2-1. Oregon was up to bat and had runners on first and second with one out. This game will be resume Sat., May 12 at 5:30 p.m. in Tempe, Ariz. prior to Oregon’s scheduled game with ASU at 7 p.m. Arizona: Oregon will play a doubleheader vs. the Wildcats on Thu., May 11 beginning at 5 p.m. in Tucson, Ariz. to make up a game that was postponed at Howe Field on Apr. 2. Santa Clara: Oregon has added a doubleheader with Santa Clara, Tue., May 2 at 2 p.m. at Howe Field. RECENTLY HEAD COACH KATHY ARENDSEN (508-360 career, 136-84 oregon) Now in her fourth season at the helm of the University of Oregon softball program, head coach Kathy Arendsen has steadily rebuilt the Duck softball program back to a contender at both the conference and national level. In her first season, the Ducks finished third in the Pac-10 conference with a 10-11 conference mark ? their highest league finish since 1990. Oregon returned to postseason play that year and last season, Arendsen guided the Ducks to their third consecutive NCAA Regional appearance. The Ducks’ third straight postseason appearance marked just the second time in school history that the program made three straight appearances and in 2006, Arendsen and the Ducks will be looking for an unprecedented fourth straight trip to the NCAA tournament. Arendsen led the Ducks to a 36-25 overall, 7-14 conference mark in 2005 and she has tripled Oregon’s conference win mark (27) in her first three seasons after the team won just nine Pac-10 games in the three seasons prior to her arrival. The memorable 2003 season ended with a 37-19 overall record and Arendsen guided the Ducks to their most Pac-10 wins since 1998, 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. A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS Portland State: Portland State completed a four- game Pacific Coast Softball Conference series sweep of San Diego on Sunday to improve to 32-14 overall and 12-1 in conference play. The 32 wins marks the Vikings’ first-ever 30-win season at the NCAA Division I level, and the sixth in the program’s history as they enter next weekend with a chance to clinch their first-ever NCAA berth. Led by former Oregon assistant Amy Hayes (2005), Portland State is on the verge of winning the PCSC league championship. UCLA: The Bruins swept the Arizona schools last week to remain No. 1 in both polls and also widen their conference lead on Oregon State as they enter the weekend 12-3 in Pac-10 play, ahead of second-place Oregon State (9-5). Seven players in the UCLA lineup are hitting above .300 and pitcher Anjelica Selden is 25-4 in the circle with a 1.04 ERA and 299 strikeouts. Washington: The Huskies had a difficult weekend against the Arizona schools, going 0-3. The Wildcats defeated Washington 2-0 and 10-1 as Arizona starter Alicia Hollowell no-hit Washington in the 2-0 win. Washington hurler Danielle Lawrie continued her fine season, allowing just three hits in the 2-0 loss and also striking out 11 batters. She now has 304 strikeouts on the season and a 1.56 ERA. Offensively, Ashley Charters leads the way with a .395 average while Sarah Hyatt provides the power (38 RBI, eight home runs). THE LAST TIME AROUND vs. Portland State: Oregon starter Alicia Cook allowed just two hits and senior Amy Harris retired six consecutive batters to pick up her second save of the season and lead the Ducks to a 2-0 victory over Portland State on April 12 at Howe Field. Oregon also defeated the Vikings 6-5 on March 15. Wednesday’s games will be Oregon’s first visit to Portland this season. UCLA: Sophomore catcher Amie Morris went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI and freshman Sari-Jane Jenkins went 3-for-4, but the top-ranked Bruins’ offense proved to be too much for the Ducks as UCLA defeated the University of Oregon softball team 9-3 on April 22 before winning 5-2 the following day. Oregon had 10 hits in the first game of the season, but UCLA starter Lisa Dodd had 10 strikeouts. vs. washington: Washington starter Danielle Lawrie limited the Duck offense to just two hits and struck out 14 batters en route to leading then No.-14th Washington to a 5-0 win over Oregon on April 21. Senior Dani Baird accounted for both of Oregon’s hits ? a single down the right field line in the second inning and a single to left field in the seventh inning BACK IN ACTION MAKING A RUN FOR FOUR STRAIGHT
COMING UP - DUCKS PLAY SEVEN GAMES THIS WEEK
The University of Oregon softball team faces a busy schedule this week, hosting Santa Clara (20-32 overall) in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday before heading up I-5 to take on Portland State (32-14) in another non-league doubleheader Wednesday. Oregon then returns to Pac-10 play, hosting No. 1 UCLA Friday at 1 p.m. and No. 15 Washington on Friday and Saturday. Both games against the Huskies will be a 1 p.m. The Ducks’ games vs. UCLA and Washington on their final home games of the 2006 season.
The Oregon vs. Washington game on Saturday, May 6th, will be broadcast on KUGN (590 AM) with Terry Jonz providing play-by-play.
Four seniors will make their home debut this weekend ? Dani Baird (OF), Beth Boskovich (1B), Amy Harris (P), Breanne Sabol (SS).
The Ducks have been plagued by rain during conference action and several games have been postponed or suspended. Below is an updated schedule of when Oregon will be making up those games.
The Ducks played six games in five days last week, losing both games of a doubleheader to Oregon State on Wednesday. The Beavers took both games by just one run, winning 4-3 in the first game and 2-1 in the second. Sophomore pitcher Alicia Cook allowed just two hits in the second game. The Ducks then responded by defeating No. 5 Stanford 9-0 in five innings Friday and beating No. 7 California 5-1 the next afternoon. The Bears responded by winning 4-0 and 6-0 in the final two games of the weekend. Cook tossed the program’s first-ever perfect game in the win over Stanford and Joanna Gail hit her second career grand slam in the game. The Ducks won the season series over Stanford .
Santa Clara: The Broncos are 20-32 overall and 7-9 in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference. Most recently, Santa Clara went 2-2 against Loyola Marymount, winning 3-0 and 11-3. Offensively, Jessica Clee leads the team with a .387 and she also hit a grand salm against Loyola last weekend. Clee has 10 home runs, 11 doubles and 38 RBI. In the circle, the Broncos are led by Liz Courter, who is 9-14 overall with a 3.08 ERA. She has 114 strikeouts.
vs. Santa Clara: When the Ducks hosted Santa Clara last season, they had just played the Arizona schools in Arizona over the weekend. Oregon’s flight home on Sunday evening was cancelled, forcing the team to travel home Monday ? the day of the DH vs. Santa Clara. Only 16 of the 20 available players were present at the start of the first game and by the second game, all 20 players were present. Alicia Cook led the Ducks to a 5-0 win in the first game, striking out nine batters and allowing four hits. In game two, then-senior Lindsey Kontra led Oregon to its second shutout win of the day vs. the Broncos.
Oregon senior Beth Boskovich, who suffered a torn ACL during practice Tue., Apr. 11, returned to action last week in the Ducks’ doubleheader at Oregon State. Boskovich started the first game before playing as the designated player in the second game. Last weekend, Boskovich started all four games vs. the Bay Area Schools. Since returning from the injury, Boskovich has five hits, one double and two RBI. Senior pitcher Amy Harris also returned to action last week, pitching against one batter in the first game vs. OSU before leading the Ducks to a 5-1 win over Stanford. She also made her first start since Mar. 28 when she got the nod vs. California Sunday.
The Ducks are in the home stretch of the season and on the verge of another postseason appearance. The Ducks will need to finish above .500 and have 12 games remaining. In order to be above that mark, the Ducks must win at least six of their final 12 games. Oregon has made it to the postseason in three consecutive seasons just one time in school history (1998, 1999, 2000), but has never been four straight seasons. Prior to head coach Kathy Arendsens’s arrival, the Duck program was 14-17 (.451) in their nine postseason (one CWS appearance) appearances. Under Arendsen, the Ducks are 11-6 (.647) in three postseason appearances. 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).
