Rice Named Pac-10 Softball Pitcher of the Week
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Oregon sophomore Melissa Rice has been named the Pac-10 Softball Pitcher of the Week for Mar. 20-26, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today.
Rice made three starts over the weekend, going 3-0 to help the Ducks roll through a pair of double-headers against Idaho State and Utah Valley State. Oregon won by the mercy-rule in each of the four games and allowed a total of two runs.
On Saturday, Rice fired a one-hitter against the Bengals of Idaho State in the day’s second game. She walked none and struck out seven in a five-inning shutout.
Next time out, Rice went the first four innings of another five-inning Oregon win, again giving up just a solitary base hit with no walks and four strikeouts as the Ducks hammered Utah Valley State, 10-1. Rice returned to the circle for the day’s second outing, this time cruising through six strong innings, allowing one run on four hits with one strikeout in a 9-1 Oregon victory.
For the week, Rice threw 15.0 innings, allowing just one run (0.46 ERA) and six hits, while striking out 12 and not issuing a single free pass. She improved her record to 17-2 with a Pac-10 leading 0.68 ERA. Opponents are hitting just .164 against Rice, the fourth-best mark in the Conference.
No. 13 Oregon (34-3) will look to carry its sterling play into league competition, as California (3 p.m., Mar. 30) and Stanford (1 p.m., Mar. 31-Apr. 1) visit Eugene, Ore., for the opening weekend of Pac-10 play.
This is Rice’s first career Pitcher of the Week honor and the 28th Player/Pitcher of the Week award all-time for Oregon.
Rice made three starts over the weekend, going 3-0 to help the Ducks roll through a pair of double-headers against Idaho State and Utah Valley State. Oregon won by the mercy-rule in each of the four games and allowed a total of two runs.
On Saturday, Rice fired a one-hitter against the Bengals of Idaho State in the day’s second game. She walked none and struck out seven in a five-inning shutout.
Next time out, Rice went the first four innings of another five-inning Oregon win, again giving up just a solitary base hit with no walks and four strikeouts as the Ducks hammered Utah Valley State, 10-1. Rice returned to the circle for the day’s second outing, this time cruising through six strong innings, allowing one run on four hits with one strikeout in a 9-1 Oregon victory.
For the week, Rice threw 15.0 innings, allowing just one run (0.46 ERA) and six hits, while striking out 12 and not issuing a single free pass. She improved her record to 17-2 with a Pac-10 leading 0.68 ERA. Opponents are hitting just .164 against Rice, the fourth-best mark in the Conference.
No. 13 Oregon (34-3) will look to carry its sterling play into league competition, as California (3 p.m., Mar. 30) and Stanford (1 p.m., Mar. 31-Apr. 1) visit Eugene, Ore., for the opening weekend of Pac-10 play.
This is Rice’s first career Pitcher of the Week honor and the 28th Player/Pitcher of the Week award all-time for Oregon.
