Notes: Ducks Meet Alabama at WCWS
OKLAHOMA CITY - After falling to UCLA in its opening game of the Women's College World Series, Oregon will meet Alabama in an elimination game at 11:30 AM PT on Saturday.
The Ducks will need to beat Alabama and the loser of the Florida and LSU on Saturday to stay alive at the WCWS. The losers of thte two games today (Florida vs. LSU and Michigan vs. UCLA) switch sides in the bracket.
The game against the Crimson Tide begins at 11:30 AM PT on ESPN while a potential second game on Saturday, against either the Gators or Tigers, will start at 6:30 PM PT on ESPN.
Last year Alabama eliminated the Ducks from the WCWS in a 2-0 loss.
#2 SEED OREGON DUCKS (51-7)
Team BA: .362 | Team ERA: 2.42 | Runs Scored: 434 | Runs Allowed: 164
Recently: Lost to UCLA on Thursday, 7-1, to open the WCWS
National Rankings: Oregon is No. 1 in the NFCA poll, No. 2 in the USA Softball poll
2015 Record vs. Top-25 Teams: Oregon is 21-7 against top-25 this season
2015 Record vs. WCWS Teams: 3-3 (2-2 vs. UCLA, 0-2 vs. Florida)
Notable: Oregon hopes to be the first team since UCLA in 2003 to battle back from a first day loss at the WCWS and win a national title. Nikki Udria was hit by three pitches against the Bruins while freshman Lauren Lindvall led the Ducks with two hits, including a RBI single in the seventh inning. After pitching in relief on Thursday vs. UCLA, Karissa Hovinga has allowed just two earned runs over her last nine appearances. She has a 0.57 ERA in the 2015 postseason. The Ducks have made two errors over six postseason games. Cheridan Hawkins was named a first team academic All-American Friday. She was also a first team NFCA All-American.
#6 SEED ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (47-14)
Team BA: .325 | Team ERA: 1.89 | Runs Scored: 389 | Runs Allowed: 132
Recently: Lost to Michigan, 5-0, to start the WCWS on Thursday.
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.
This Season: McCleney is hitting a team-best .447 this season with 74 runs scored and 14 doubles. Marisa Runyon, whose grand slam against Oklahoma in Super Regionals put the Tide into the WCWS, leads the team with 19 homers on the year.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES HISTORY
Recently: Oregon has gone to the WCWS in three of the last four seasons
WCWS Appearances: Four (1989, 2012, 2014, 2015)
WCWS All-Time Record: 4-6 (1-2 in 1989, 1-2 in 2012, 2-2 in 2014, 0-1 in 2015)
WCWS Record Under Mike White: 3-5 (2012, 2014 and 2015)
Notable: Oregon is making its third WCWS appearance in six seasons under head coach Mike White and fourth overall. White is 18-0 at Oregon in regional games, 7-7 in super regional games and 3-5 in WCWS games. Last year in OKC, the Ducks defeated Florida State, 3-0, in their first game before falling to eventual champion Florida, 4-0, on the second day of action. Oregon rebounded with a 4-2 win over Oklahoma in an elimination game before being knocked out by Alabama, 2-0, in the semifinals. In 2012, Oregon lost to Arizona State, 3-1 before defeating Tennessee, 3-1. The Ducks were eliminated in the next game, a 6-3 loss to California.
