After Sweep Of Louisiana, Ducks Hitting Stretch Run At Full Stride
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
It was hard to watch the Oregon softball team's three-game sweep of Louisiana this past weekend and not be excited about what could be in store for the Ducks.
The matchup between the No. 2 Ducks and No. 9 Ragin' Cajuns was set up like an NCAA Super Regional, with two top-10 teams meeting in one game to open the series Friday, followed by a doubleheader.
Had this been an actual Super Regional, there would have been no need for the second game Saturday, after two run-rule wins for Oregon. Even where the Ducks struggled over the weekend, there was a silver lining.
Oregon (41-5) took on a Louisiana pitching staff that was allowing opposing batters to hit just .171 and battered it for 18 runs in the first two games. The Ducks played error-free defense in all three contests, and ace Cheridan Hawkins limited the Ragin' Cajuns to two solo home runs in her 11 1/3 innings, well under their NCAA-leading average of more than two homers per game.
"It's very encouraging," said UO coach Mike White, whose Ducks host California this weekend in the penultimate series of the regular season.
White hadn't seen his offense at full strength in nearly as month, as first Janie Takeda and then Hailey Decker dealt with injuries. They were both back in their usual spots in the top half of the order against Louisiana, in a lineup that's been sparked by new leadoff hitter Nikki Udria the last few weeks. Against Louisiana, Udria reached base 10 times in three games, scoring six runs.
As a team the Ducks came out flat in Saturday's nightcap, a game that wouldn't have been played had this been a Super Regional. Louisiana ace Jordan Wallace rebounded from a flat Friday with a strong showing. That was a learning experience for the Ducks, but it didn't cost them a game as they rallied for runs in the seventh and eighth innings for a 2-1 victory and series sweep.
"They gave us a run for our money," Decker said. "It's good to be put in that situation. Games like that are helpful for us, to grow as a team."
The best news from the series finale was the pitching of those Ducks not named Hawkins. Geri Ann Glasco got ahead in counts and worked her mix of pitches as well as she had all season, limiting Louisiana to one run over four innings. Karissa Hovinga and Jasmine Smithson-Willett served as a bridge to Hawkins, who pitched the final inning-and-a-third for her third victory of the three-game series.
Lacking a consistent No. 2 starter to complement Hawkins, White has looked for group efforts from the other pitchers. They came through as well as ever Saturday, giving Oregon confidence it could survive a Regional even on the off chance Hawkins uncharacteristically dropped a game.
Hawkins followed a no-hitter Friday by battling her command in Saturday's opener, and hitting three batters. The potential silver lining there is, they were all right-handed hitters. Oregon's nemesis the last two seasons, Florida, punished Hawkins in last year's WCWS by having right-handers sit on outside pitches; her willingness to work inside against Louisiana's powerful offense could serve notice that the UO ace continues to expand her repertoire.
Along with last year's postseason loss, the Ducks dropped two to the Gators early this spring. Everything seemed to go Florida's way in those games, and while the Gators hit some speed bumps early in SEC play, they seem to be on the upswing again.
So to do the Ducks, based on their resounding performance against a top-10 foe this past weekend. Whatever stands in their way from this point forward, the UO softball team appears poised to take on all challengers.
