Notes: Ducks Head to WCWS
EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon, the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA softball championships, will be making its fourth appearance at the Women's College World Series starting Thursday.
Oregon's first game of the WCWS will be against No. 7 seed UCLA on Thursday at 6:30 PM PT. The game will air live on ESPN2.
BROADCAST INFO
Every game at the Women’s College World Series will be aired live on the ESPN family of networks. Oregon’s games will also be broadcast on the radio. stations are TBA.
NO. 2 OVERALL SEED
Oregon is the No. 2 overall seed in the 2015 NCAA Championships, behind No. 1 seed Florida. The Ducks were the No. 1 seed last year when they lost to Alabama, 2-0, in the semifinals of the WCWS. Oregon was the No. 11 seed when advancing to the 2012 WCWS.
POSTSEASON HISTORY
Oregon is 55-38 all-time in postseason play and 28-11 under head coach Mike White. The Ducks are making their 17th appearance in the NCAA tournament overall, not including two AIAW tournament trips in 1976 and 1980 before the NCAA sponsored women’s sports. Oregon’s first NCAA regional appearance was in 1989, when the Ducks also advanced to their first WCWS in Sunnyvale, Calif. Oregon has gone on to the WCWS three times since, in 2012, 2014 and 2015.
2015 POSTSEASON STANDOUTS
Through five games this postseason, the Ducks are hitting .323 as a team, with 10 doubles and four homers, while holding opponents to a .100 batting average. The Ducks have posted a .445 on-base percentage in the tournament and they are 4-for-5 on stolen base attempts. Cheridan Hawkins and Karissa Hovinga have combined to allow only 11 total hits over five postseason games thus far in 34.0 innings. Hawkins has a 1.52 ERA this postseason with 45 strikeouts in 23.0 innings. Hovinga has a 0.64 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 11 innings. Hovinga earned both the regional clinching win over No. 24 North Dakota State and the super regional clinching win over NC State. Danica Mercado is hitting .556 so far in the tournament while Hailey Decker is hitting .429 with eight runs scored, a homer and four RBIs. Janelle Lindvall has a homer and five RBIs while Koral Costa and Nikki Udria also has five RBIs. Freshman Jenna Lilley is hitting .250, but has drawn a team-high six walks for a .526 on-base percentage.
LAST YEAR AT THE WCWS
Then-freshman Nikki Udria had a breakout performance in the WCWS last season, hitting .444 (4-for-9) with a double and two runs scored over four starts. She also struck out just once. Koral Costa hit .333 last season with a double while Janie Takeda hit .286 with a run and two RBIs. Karissa Hovinga did not allow a run in 7.2 innings over three appearances and one start. She struck out seven. Cheridan Hawkins struck out 17 in 19.1 innings pitched over four appearances and three starts. She allowed eight runs on 14 hits and nine walks for a 2.90 ERA. Hawkins’ best outing was a one-hit shutout with six strikeouts against Florida State to open the WCWS.
A RECORD SETTING OFFENSE
Heading into the WCWS, Oregon’s offense has already set new UO single-season records for home runs (81), doubles (96), walks (247) and total bases (917). Oregon’s current .364 team batting average would break the previous record of .342 by more than 20 points. Oregon’s .605 slugging percentage is also on pace to shatter the UO mark of .526. The Ducks’ record of 6.86 runs per game set in 1999 is also about to be broken, as this year’s team is averaged 7.59 runs per game. The Ducks enter the WCWS 13 runs away from breaking that record as well (445 in 2014, 433 this season).
THE WINNINGEST SENIOR CLASS
Oregon’s class of four seniors - Janie Takeda, Karissa Hovinga, Jamie Rae Sullivan and Sara Goodrum - have won 202 games over their four-year careers, the most in any four-year stretch in UO history.
OREGON VS. #1 SEED FLORIDA
All-Time Series Record: Florida leads the all-time series, 9-2. Florida has won eight straight overall against the Ducks, dating back to 2007.
Last Meeting: Oregon lost twice to Florida this season. The Ducks were shutout, 3-0, by the Gators at the San Diego Classic on Feb. 27 and were clipped again by UF, 5-1, on March 6 to start the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif.
Past Performances: While Oregon hit just .163 over the two games against Florida, Hailey Decker hit .400 (2-for-5) with a walk. Jenna Lilley and Koral Costa each had doubles. Cheridan Hawkins had eight strikeouts while allowing three runs (one earned) in her start in San Diego. Karissa Hovinga surrendered five runs (three earned) with three strikeouts in her start in Fullerton. Oregon made five errors combined in the two games.
OREGON VS. #3 SEED MICHIGAN
All-Time Series Record: Michigan leads the all-time series, 4-3.
Last Meeting: Oregon won the last meeting between the two teams, when the No. 10 Ducks defeated No. 14 Michigan, 13-4, by run-rule (six innings) on March 3, 2013.
Past Performances: In the 13-4 win over the Wolverines in 2013, Janelle Lindvall went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Janie Takeda went 1-for-4 with a run. The Ducks scored six runs (four earned) off starting pitcher Sara Driesenga, now a senior at UM. Cheridan Hawkins tossed two scoreless and hitless innings of relief with two strikeouts and a walk.
OREGON VS. #4 SEED AUBURN
All-Time Series Record: Oregon is undefeated all-time against Auburn, 3-0.
Last Meeting: The No. 4 ranked Ducks played No. 24 Auburn at the Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla., last season, earning a 3-0 win on Feb. 28, 2014.
Past Performances: In that 3-0 win, Cheridan Hawkins was masterful. The lefty scattered three hits and two walks over seven innings with 12 strikeouts. She needed just 98 pitches for the shutout win.
OREGON VS. #5 SEED LSU
All-Time Series Record: Oregon is undefeated all-time against LSU, 2-0.
Last Meeting: The No. 6 ranked Ducks defeated No. 23 LSU, 4-1, last season on Feb. 21, 2014, at the Mary Nutter Classic.
Past Performances: Cheridan Hawkins allowed just one run on six hits and three walks in seven innings with 12 strikeouts in the Ducks’ last meeting with LSU. Janelle Lindvall homered, took two walks and drove in a pair while Janie Takeda went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Oregon scored two runs in the first inning and two more in the seventh. Bianka Bell went 1-for-4 with a solo homer for the Tigers’ only run. Hawkins struck out Bell twice, Sandra Simmons twice, Kellsi Kloss twice and Bailey Landry twice.
OREGON VS. #6 SEED ALABAMA
All-Time Series Record: Alabama leads the series, 6-1
Last Meeting: Oregon was eliminated from the WCWS last season in the semifinals in a 2-0 loss to the Tide. The Ducks have lost five straight to the Tide, going back to 2005.
Past Performances: Last season in the WCWS the Ducks were stymied by Jaclyn Traina. Oregon’s offense managed four hits in the game. Karissa Hovinga started for the Ducks and allowed five hits but no runs over 3.1 innings with two strikeouts. Cheridan Hawkins entered in relief and gave up two runs on four hits in 2.2 innings with three strikeouts. Koral Costa had one of Oregon’s four hits. Haylie McCleney homered for Alabama while Traina helped herself with two hits.
OREGON VS. #7 SEED UCLA
All-Time Series Record: UCLA leads, 75-22
Last Meeting: Oregon took 2-of-3 in a series with UCLA in Los Angeles this year. The Ducks have won the three-game series with the Bruins in five straight seasons.
Past Performances: Lauren Lindvall had one of Oregon’s biggest hits of the season against UCLA. After falling in the series opener, 8-1, Oregon trailed the Bruins, 4-1, entering the seventh inning in the second game of the series. The Ducks had left 11 runners on base in the previous six innings. After Koral Costa hit a RBI single to start the seventh, the freshman Lindvall, who’s eldest sister Devon played for the Bruins, crushed a three-run homer to give the Ducks a 5-4 lead with one out. Oregon tacked on another run on a sac fly by Hailey Decker and went on to win the game, 6-4. Karissa Hovinga tossed 5.1 innings of scoreless relief with just three hits allowed after Cheridan Hawkins allowed four runs in 1.1 innings to start the game. Oregon won the third game of the series, 10-0, in five innings as Costa and Janelle Lindvall each hit a grand slam. Alyssa Gillespie hit .625 in the series with a double while Costa hit .500 with two homers and six RBIs. Jenna Lilley hit .444 in the series with three walks.
OREGON VS. #8 SEED TENNESSEE
All-Time Series Record: Tied, 2-2
Last Meeting: No. 12 Oregon defeated No. 5 Tennessee on the second day of the 2012 WCWS, 3-1.
Past Performances: In the Ducks’ WCWS win over the Vols in 2012, Janie Takeda went 1-for-3. She is the only player on the current Oregon roster to appear in that game. For Tennessee, Tory Lewis went 1-for-2 with a RBI and Cheyanne Tarango went 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter.
HITTING TEAM NOTES
- Oregon is 47-0 when getting more hits than their opponents this season.
- The Ducks rank second in the nation with a .364 batting average.
- Oregon hit a school record .342 as a team last year.
- UO’s .466 on-base percentage is third in the nation.
- UO’s .605 slugging percentage is sixth best in NCAA.
- Oregon ranks seventh in the NCAA averaging 7.6 runs scored per game.
- The Ducks lead the Pac-12 with 91 stolen bases.
- Oregon ranks 26th in the NCAA, averaging 1.6 stolen bases per game.
- Oregon ranks 19th in the nation, averaging 1.42 home runs per game.
- Oregon has been hit by 62 pitches this year, the most in the Pac-12.
HITTING INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Janie Takeda leads the Pac-12 with 35 stolen bases. She is 35-for-37 on the season.
- Takeda is averaging 0.66 stolen bases per game, which ranks 17th in the NCAA.
- Freshman Jenna Lilley is fourth in the Pac-12 with a .548 on-base percentage. Her .548 OBP is 23rd best in the nation.
- Lilley is fifth in the Pac-12 with a .433 batting average. - Lilley’s 60 runs scored ranks fourth in the league.
- Freshman Gwen Svekis is second in the Pac-12 with an .840 slugging percentage and is seventh with a .427 batting average.
- Janie Takeda is ninth in the Pac-12 with a .416 batting average.
- Janelle Lindvall has been hit by 17 pitches this season, the most in the Pac-12.
PITCHING TEAM NOTES
- Oregon is 45-0 this year when leading after four innings.
- The Ducks rank 22nd in the NCAA and lead the Pac-12 with a 2.37 team ERA.
- UO’s .199 opponent batting average also leads the Pac-12.
- The Ducks lead the league with 406 strikeouts.
- Oregon pitchers have allowed just 265 hits this season, the fewest in the conference. Oregon has also issued the fewest number of walks in the conference at 115.
- Oregon has allowed the fewest runs in the Pac-12 this season at 157.
- The Ducks have hit 48 batters, most in the Pac-12.
- Oregon opened the season with three straight shutouts (8-0 vs. Cal Poly, 9-0 vs. #25 Texas and 8-0 vs. Northwestern).
PITCHING INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Cheridan Hawkins is 10th in the NCAA with a 1.44 ERA, which leads the Pac-12.
- Hawkins has the second best ERA in the WCWS, behind only Florida’s Lauren Haeger (1.24).
- Hawkins is second in the country in hits allowed per seven inning, averaging just 3.23.
- Hawkins is ninth in the nation with 10 shutouts and ninth with 30 victories.
- Hawkins ranks ninth in the nation averaging 10.0 strikeouts per seven innings.
THREE STRAIGHT PAC-12 TITLES
After tallying a program record 21 conference wins, the Ducks won their third straight Pac-12 title. Oregon softball had never won a conference championship before its current three-year run. With a UCLA loss on May 9, the final day of the regular season, Oregon clinched its third straight outright championship. The Ducks found out about a half hour before they were set to play Arizona that ASU had hit a walkoff to beat the Bruins, 11-10, and seal the title for UO. Oregon is the first team to win three-straight Pac-12 titles since Arizona did it from 2003-2005. UCLA holds the record with four straight.
DUCKS ON THE POND
Oregon’s ability to both hit for average and draw walks has put an incredible number of Ducks on the pond. Oregon is averaging 15.1 baserunners per game and 2.5 baserunners per inning this season. The Ducks have tallied roughly 861 baserunners total this season (552 hits, 247 walks, 62 HBP), not counting errors.
TOP NOTCH COMPETITION
Oregon has played 27 times against a ranked opponent this season. The Ducks are 21-6 against top-25 foes, with wins in 15 of the last 16 games. Of Oregon’s final 21 games in the regular season, 18 were vs. ranked foes.
HAWKINS PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALIST
USA Softball announced on May 20 that lefty Cheridan Hawkins is one of just three finalists for the organization’s Player of the Year award. Hawkins joins Florida’s Lauren Haeger and Michigan’s Sierra Romera on the list. All three players are still alive in the WCWS. Hawkins, the Pac-12’s back-to-back pitcher of the year, boasts a 30-3 record, a 1.44 ERA and 269 strikeouts through super regional play. Hawkins ranks second in the nation, allowing just 3.22 hits per seven innings. Ranked in the top-10 in the NCAA in wins, shutouts and saves, Hawkins was also named first-team all-Pac 12 and leads the conference in ERA and opponent batting average. She’s second in wins and strikeouts.
LILLEY FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR FINALIST
The NFCA also announced on May 20 that third baseman Jenna Lilley is one of just three finalists for the group’s Freshman of the Year award. Lilley joins Oklahoma’s Paige Parker and Alabama’s Alexis Osorio on the list. Lilley, the Pac-12 freshman of the year, was also a first-team all-conference selection in her rookie season. The only Duck to start all 57 games this year, Lilley, a two-time Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week, ranks third in the Pac-12 with a .433 batting average and a .548 on-base percentage. She is tied for fifth with 16 doubles and is sixth with 60 runs scored. Her average, doubles, runs scored and 39 walks are all team-highs for the Ducks, while she also has six home runs, 16 stolen bases and 44 RBIs. In addition, the North Canton, Ohio, native was selected honorable mention all-defense, posting a .948 fielding percentage at the hot corner.
ONE OF A KIND
Oregon is the only program to have a finalist for USA Softball player of the year and NFCA freshman of the year (Hawkins and Lilley).
TAKEDA OWNS FOUR UO RECORDS
After breaking the program’s career marks for hits and stolen bases on back-to-back pitches against No. 9 Louisiana Lafayette on April 24, senior OF Janie Takeda became Oregon’s all-time runs leader on senior day, May 3, against California and UO’s all-time doubles leader on May 15 against North Dakota State in the second game of regionals. Takeda has 307 career hits, 204 career runs, 102 career stolen bases and 42 career doubles.
WHITE OWNS OREGON WINS RECORD
After the first weekend of the 2015 season, head coach Mike White jumped to first on Oregon’s all-time coaching wins record list. White, now with 280 wins, jumped Kathy Arendsen (2003-09), who had a program-best 231 wins in seven seasons with the Ducks. White reached the milestone in his sixth season. UO’s 8-0 run-rule win over Northwestern on Feb. 7 was his 232nd win, breaking Arendsen’s previous record.
THE DUCKS UNDER MIKE WHITE
- Oregon is 12-6 vs. Arizona, 8-12-1 vs. Arizona State, 12-7 vs. California, 15-3 vs. Oregon State, 13-5 vs. Stanford, 10-8 vs. UCLA, 12-0 vs. Utah (2-0 vs. Utah in non-conference play) and 10-7 vs. Washington.
- UO is 28-11 in the postseason, 18-0 in regionals.
- UO swept ASU this season for the first time since 1989.
- UO has outscored foes 2,171 to 1,018 under White.
- Longest losing streak is just four games (2010)
- Longest winning streak is 15 games (2014 & 2015)
- The Ducks are 31-11-3 overall in Pac-12 series.
- Won 24 of their last 26 Pac-12 series.
- Lost just three Pac-12 series over the last four years.
- Ducks have been swept three times in Pac-12 series under Mike White while sweeping opponents 17 times.
300-200-100 CLUB
Janie Takeda is just the 19th player in the history of NCAA softball to post 300+ hits, 200+ runs and 100+ stolen bases in a career. (In chronological order below)
1. Tiff Tootle, South Carolina (1990-1993)
351 hits, 207 runs, 114 stolen bases
2. Amy Chellevold, Arizona (1992-1995)
371 hits, 252 runs, 113 stolen bases
3. Shamalene Wilson, Florida State (1993-1996)
310 hits, 223 runs, 161 stolen bases
4. Alison McCutcheon, Arizona (1995-1998)
405 hits, 287 runs, 148 stolen bases
5. Kelly Kretschman, Alabama (1998-2001)
368 hits, 288 runs, 133 stolen bases
6. Lauren Bauer, Arizona (1998-2001)
349 hits, 238 runs, 133 stolen bases
7. Natasha Watley, UCLA (2000-2003)
395 hits, 252 runs, 158 stolen bases
8. Nicole Barber, Georgia (2001-2004)
379 hits, 266 runs, 257 stolen bases
9. Caitlin Lowe, Arizona (2004-2007)
351 hits, 234 runs, 156 stolen bases
10. Lindsay Schutzler, Tennessee (2004-2007)
362 hits, 241 runs, 120 stolen bases
11. Norrelle Dickson, Oklahoma (2004-2007)
328 hits, 234 runs, 110 stolen bases
12. Amber Jackson, B.-Cookman/Maryland (2003-05, 07)
348 hits, 265 runs, 114 stolen bases
13. Brittany Rogers, Alabama (2006-2009)
343 hits, 256 runs, 198 stolen bases
14. Ashley Charters, Washington (2005-2007, 2009)
314 hits, 214 runs, 133 stolen bases
15. Chelsea Bramlett, MississippiState (2007-2010)
359 hits, 219 runs, 207 stolen bases
16. Rhea Taylor, Missouri (2008-2011)
315 hits, 234 runs, 184 stolen bases
17. Raven Chavanne, Tennessee (2010-2013)
355 hits, 244 runs, 143 stolen bases
18. Kayla Braud, Alabama (2010-2013)
343 hits, 271 runs, 181 stolen bases
19. Janie Takeda, Oregon (2012-2015)
307 hits, 204 runs, 102 stolen bases
