Notes: 2015 Season Recap
EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon softball had another record-breaking season in 2015. Take a look back through the campaign with this recap.
Click on the PDF link for the full release.
OREGON DUCKS (51-8, 21-3 Pac-12)
Team BA: .359 | Team ERA: 2.42 | Runs Scored: 435 | Runs Allowed: 166
Recently: Oregon went 0-2 at the WCWS, losing to UCLA and Alabama
Final National Ranking: Oregon is No. 7 in both the ASA and NFCA polls
2015 Record vs. Top-25 Teams: Oregon went 21-8 against top-25 teams in 2015
2015 Postseason Record: 3-0 in Regionals, 2-0 in Supers and 0-2 at the WCWS
Notable: The Ducks won 50+ games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history and won their third straight Pac-12 title. Oregon broke nearly every program record for hitting in 2015, as all 11 players who started at least 20 games hit .317-or-better on the season. After winning every series in Pac-12 play, the Ducks advanced to the NCAA Championships as the No. 2 overall seed. Oregon improved to 18-0 in regional play under Mike White with a sweep of the Eugene Regional. The Ducks closed down Howe Field in 2015, as the final game in the old stadium was a 9-3 win over NC State in super regionals. The win clinched Oregon’s third Women’s College World Series trip over the last four seasons. The Ducks saw their record-breaking 2015 season end in disappointing fashion, however, after going 0-2 at the WCWS. Despite Janie Takeda’s 2-for-3 effort and Cheridan Hawkins allowing just two runs on three hits, Alabama eliminated UO for the second straight year.
NO. 2 OVERALL SEED
Oregon was the No. 2 overall seed in the 2015 NCAA Championships, behind No. 1 seed and eventual champion 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.
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.
POSTSEASON HISTORY
Oregon is now 55-40 all-time in postseason play and 28-13 under head coach Mike White after playing in the 2015 WCWS. The Ducks made 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
Danica Mercdao and Karissa Hovinga had postseasons to remember in 2015. Mercado, a sophomore second baseman, led Oregon with a .455 batting average in the postseason on 5-for-11 hitting. She tallied three runs and three RBIs. Koral Costa, Janelle Lindvall and Nikki Udria all had a team-best five RBIs in seven postseason games. Costa smacked three doubles to lead the team while she, Hailey Decker, Janie Takeda and Lindvall all homered once. In the circle, Cheridan Hawkins had a 2.83 ERA in 34.2 postseason innings but it was Hovinga that shined brightest. The senior posted a 0.57 ERA in 12.1 innings with 12 strikeouts and just five hits allowed. She earned clinching wins in both the regional and super regional.
A RECORD-SETTING OFFENSE
Oregon had the best offense in school history in 2015. The Ducks set program records for batting average (.359) and slugging percentage (.593) plus runs per game (7.37), doubles (97) home runs (81), walks (250), RBIs (399) and total bases (927). Full records recap on page 7 of the release.
BACK-TO-BACK LOSSES
Oregon went 0-2 at the 2015 Women’s College World Series, falling to UCLA and Alabama. The Ducks had not lost back-to-back games since their final Pac-12 series of 2013, when they had already clinched a conference championship.
THE WINNINGEST SENIOR CLASS
Oregon’s class of four seniors - Janie Takeda, Karissa Hovinga, Jamie Rae Sullivan and Sara Goodrum - won 202 games over their four-year careers, the most in any four-year stretch in UO history.
UO CLOSES OUT HOWE FIELD WITH WIN
Oregon closed out historic Howe Field in grand style, sweeping NC State in Super Regionals in the final series at the venue. Oregon won the second game of the series, 9-3, in the final game ever played at Howe Field. Senior pitcher Karissa Hovinga earned the final win at the stadium, allowing just two runs (one earned) on two hits in five innings. She struck out five. Cheridan Hawkins picked up the save after entering with no outs in the sixth. The junior struck out six and allowed one run on one hit over the final two innings. It was a 5-2 game when she entered before the Ducks tacked on four more runs in the seventh. Janelle Lindvall hit the final Oregon home run in the venue, with a three-run homer to right center. She was also the final Duck to cross the plate in Howe Field history. UO groundskeeper Bill Centrella, who has maintained Howe Field for 19 years, was able to find the Lindvall home run ball and return it to her after the game.
NEW SOFTBALL STADIUM ANNOUNCED
The Ducks started tearing down Howe Field on Tuesday, May 26, and will construct new Jane Sanders Stadium in its place, spurred on by $16 million in gifts from UO alum Bob Sanders in honor of his late wife. Bob and Jane met at the UO, where Bob, class of 1951, was a fullback on the football team and Jane, class of 1950, was a cheerleader. Bob and Jane Sanders enjoyed great success in the lumber industry, with businesses in California, Oregon and Washington. The stadium will be ready for the Ducks’ first home Pac-12 series in 2016. In addition to Sanders’ $16 million gift, former softball head coach and UO administrator Becky Sisley announced a matching gift challenge for the stadium fund on May 1. Sisley will match all other donations, up to $200,000, for the stadium project until Oct. 1. Contact the Duck Athletic Fund in Eugene (541-346-5433) or Portland (503-412-3684) to make a donation. Jane Sanders Stadium will feature 1,500 permanent seats with room to add up to 1,000 more seats with outfield bleachers for postseason games. In Oregon’s final game at Howe Field, against NC State on May 23, a record 2,061 fans packed the old stadium. Oregon averaged 1,198 fans per home game in 2015. A team meeting room, locker room, film room, training room and other amenities will be built under the concourse while an indoor practice center with batting cages, pitching lanes and an infield will be constructed down the third base line. Howe Field was originally built in 1936 as the home of Oregon baseball and was converted to a softball stadium in 1987. SRG is the architect and Howard S. Wright is the general contractor.
HITTING TEAM NOTES
- The Ducks were 47-0 when getting more hits than their opponents.
- The Ducks ranked third in the nation with a .359 batting average, a new school record and the second best in the Pac-12. Oregon hit .342 last year, the previous school record.
- UO’s .461 on-base percentage was third in the nation and second in the Pac-12.
- UO’s .593 slugging percentage was eighth best in NCAA, third best in the Pac-12 and a new school record.
- Oregon ranked ninth in the NCAA averaging 7.37 runs scored per game.
- The Ducks lead the Pac-12 with 91 stolen bases.
- Oregon ranked 21st in the nation, averaging 1.37 home runs per game.
- Oregon was hit by 66 pitches in 2015, the most in the Pac-12.
HITTING INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Janie Takeda paced the Pac-12 with 35 stolen bases. She went 35-for-38 on the season.
- Takeda averaged 0.64 stolen bases per game, which ranked 18th in the NCAA.
- Takeda ranked sixth in the Pac-12 with 76 hits and ninth with a .411 batting average.
- Freshman Jenna Lilley was fourth in the Pac-12 with a .539 on-base percentage, good for 28th best in the NCAA.
- Lilley was sixth in the Pac-12 with a .427 batting average and sixth with 39 walks drawn.
- Lilley’s 60 runs scored ranked fifth in the league.
- Freshman Gwen Svekis was second in the Pac-12 with an .840 slugging percentage and is tied with Lilley for sixth with a .427 batting average.
- Janelle Lindvall was hit by 17 pitches in 2015, the most in the Pac-12.
PITCHING TEAM NOTES
- Oregon was 45-0 in 2015 when leading after four innings.
- The Ducks ranked 23rd in the NCAA and lead the Pac-12 with a 2.42 team ERA.
- UO’s .201 opponent batting average also paced the Pac-12. UCLA at .230 was second best.
- The Ducks led the league with 420 strikeouts despite pitching just 370 innings, the fifth fewest in the Pac-12.
- Oregon pitchers allowed just 277 hits in 2015, the fewest in the conference. Oregon also issued the fewest number of walks in the conference at 119.
- Oregon allowed the fewest runs in the Pac-12 at 166.
- The Ducks hit 48 batters, the 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 was 18th in the NCAA with a 1.64 ERA, which paced the Pac-12.
- Hawkins’ .142 opponent batting average led the Pac-12. Her 282 strikeouts also paced the league, beating out UCLA’s Ally Carda by one strikeout (281).
- Hawkins was fourth in the country in hits allowed per seven inning, averaging just 3.42.
- Karissa Hovinga ranked 51st in the NCAA in walks allowed per seven innings with 1.58.
- Hovinga led the Pac-12 with just 19 walks allowed and also paced the league with just 32 earned runs allowed (among pitchers who threw at least one IP per game played).
- Hawkins was 10th in the nation with 10 shutouts and 11th with 30 victories.
- Hawkins ranked ninth in the nation averaging 9.9 strikeouts per seven innings.
- Hawkins’ seven saves were the third most in the NCAA.
DUCKS ON THE POND
Oregon’s ability to both hit for average and draw walks put an incredible number of Ducks on the pond in 2015. Oregon averaged 14.9 baserunners per game and 2.5 baserunners per inning in 2015. The Ducks tallied roughly 877 baserunners total on the year (561 hits, 250 walks, 66 HBP), not counting errors.
TOP NOTCH COMPETITION
Oregon played 29 times against a ranked opponent in 2015 and the Ducks went 21-8 in those contests. Of Oregon’s final 21 games in the regular season, 18 came against ranked foes.
HAWKINS PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALIST
Cheridan Hawkins was one of just three finalists for the USA Softball Player of the Year award. Hawkins joined Florida’s Lauren Haeger and Michigan’s Sierra Romera on the list. The honor went to Haeger at a banquet in Oklahoma City before the start of the WCWS.
LILLEY FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR FINALIST
Jenna Lilley was also one of just three finalists for the NFCA’s Freshman of the Year award. Lilley joined Oklahoma’s Paige Parker and Alabama’s Alexis Osorio on the list. The honor went to Parker at a banquet in Oklahoma City before the start of the WCWS.
ONE OF A KIND
Oregon was the only program to have a finalist for both the USA Softball player of the year and the NFCA freshman of the year (Hawkins and Lilley).
TAKEDA CLAIMS FOUR UO RECORDS
After breaking the program’s career marks for hits and stolen bases on back-to-back pitches against No. 9 Louisiana 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. With the conclusion of her stellar career, Takeda has 309 career hits, 204 career runs, 102 career stolen bases and 42 career doubles. Her 309 career hits were the most by any active player in 2015.
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.
300-200-100 CLUB
In 2015, Janie Takeda became 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)
309 hits, 204 runs, 102 stolen bases
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 28-13 in the postseason, 18-0 in regionals.
- UO swept ASU this season for the first time since 1989.
- UO has outscored foes 2,173 to 1,027 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.
WHITE COACHING TREE
Mike White has seen three of his assistants leave for head coaching jobs over the last five years. Blake Miller left to take over at Virginia in 2014. Lisa Dodd went to UNLV in 2012 and Jessica Allister went to Minnesota in 2011.
OREGON IN THE POLLS
Oregon debuted at No. 2 in both the NFCA and USA Softball top-25 polls in the preseason before finishing at No. 7 after the WCWS. The Ducks were No. 3 in the final 2014 polls.
GRAND SLAM SLUGGERS
Oregon hit eight grand slams in 2015. Freshman Gwen Svekis crushed a grand slam on March 15 against the Beavers as part of her school record nine RBI outburst. That was the Ducks’ first grand slam of the season. All but one came against Pac-12 opponents and the Ducks hit two in a 10-0 five-inning run-rule win at then-No. 10 UCLA.
# Player Opponent
1 Gwen Svekis Oregon State (3/15)
2 Sammie Puentes at Utah (3/23)
3 Hailey Decker Utah Valley (3/35)
4 Koral Costa at #10 UCLA (4/5)
5 Janelle Lindvall at #10 UCLA (4/5)
6 Janelle Lindvall #19 Arizona State (4/10)
7 Nikki Udria at Stanford (4/19)
8 Gwen Svekis at #17 Arizona (5/9)
RUN RULES
The Ducks won by run-rule a whopping 20 times in 2015, including No. 25 ranked Texas on opening day, all three games against rival Oregon State, once at No. 10 UCLA and twice against then-No. 9 ranked Louisiana. Oregon run-ruled No. 18 Cal twice and No. 17 Arizona once. Full list below.
No. Opponent Score
1 vs. #25 Texas (2/6/15) 9-0 (5)
2 vs. Northwestern (2/7/15) 8-0 (5)
3 vs. Wisconsin (2/8/15) 10-2 (5)
4 vs. Sam Houston St. (2/18/15) 14-4 (5)
5 vs. Abilene Christian (2/20/15) 8-0 (5)
6 vs. North Texas (2/21/15) 9-0 (5)
7 Oregon State (3/13/15) 10-0 (5)
8 Oregon State (3/15/15) 23-12 (5)
9 Oregon State (3/15/15) 9-0 (5)
10 Utah Valley (3/25/15) 9-1 (6)
11 #19 Washington (3/27/15) 8-0 (5)
12 #19 Washington (3/29/15) 15-6 (5)
13 at #10 UCLA (4/5/15) 10-0 (5)
14 #19 Arizona State (4/11/15) 12-3 (6)
15 #9 Louisiana-Lafayette (4/24) 8-0 (5)
16 #9 Louisiana-Lafayette (4/25) 10-2 (5)
17 #18 California (5/2) 9-0 (5)
18 #18 California (5/3) 17-1 (5)
19 at #17 Arizona (5/9) 15-7 (5)
20 vs. BYU (Regionals) (5/14) 8-0 (6)
DUCKS SMASH NO. 9 LOUISIANA
Oregon had three walkoff wins (two run-rule, one in eight innings) in a sweep of then-No. 9 ranked Louisiana-Lafayette on April 24-25 in a rare late season non-conference series in Eugene. The meeting pitted two of the best teams in the nation with equally strong hitting and pitching numbers. The Ducks came out firing on all cylinders as Cheridan Hawkins tossed her sixth career no-hitter in an 8-0 win in the opener before the Ducks swept a doubleheader on the second day of the series. Oregon outscored UL, 20-3, in the series. The Ducks held UL slugger Lexie Elkins (.451, 25 HRs, 63 RBIs) hitless in the series (0-for-7 with a walk). Oregon hit .343 against a UL team that came with a .171 opponent batting average and held the Ragin’ Cajuns, who entered with a .356 team batting average, to .182 hitting in the series.
BATS GO BOOM VS. WASHINGTON
Oregon belted out a school record eight home runs in a 15-6 run-rule win over then No. 19 ranked Washington on March 29. Jenna Lilley hit a two-run shot in the first inning and Geri Ann Glasco hit a solo homer in the second before the Ducks exploded for five homers in the third inning, matching the NCAA record. Hailey Decker hit a two-run shot to start the home run derby followed by a two-run shot by Glasco, her second of the day. After a pitching change, Janelle Lindvall went back-to-back with Glasco on a solo shot. Nikki Udria hit her first home run of the season next, a two-run laser to right. Decker, who homered to start the inning, came up two batters later and crushed a three-run blast off the foul pole in left. Glasco led off the fourth with a solo shot, her third homer of the game and the eighth total for the Ducks.
DUCKS MATCH NCAA HOME RUN RECORD
While Oregon’s eight home runs on March 29 against then-No. 19 Washington broke the program single-game record, the Ducks’ five home runs in the third inning tied the NCAA mark for bombs in an inning.
RECORDS FALL VS. OREGON STATE
The Ducks had a record-setting day on March 15 against Oregon State. In the opening game of a doubleheader the Ducks beat the rival Beavers, 23-12, in a five inning run-rule win. Oregon’s 23 runs are the most scored in program history while C/DP Gwen Svekis totaled nine RBIs in the win, the most in UO history. Svekis had, in order, a three-run homer, a two-RBI triple and a grand slam. The Ducks drew 13 walks from OSU pitchers in the game, also a program record. The previous record for runs in a game was 19, set multiple times, while the previous mark for RBIs was seven, last reached by Kailee Cuico last season. The Ducks’ old record for walks taken was 11, set against Northwestern in 2012.
HAWKINS THROWS PERFECT GAME
In an 8-0 run-rule win over then-No. 19 Washington on March 27, junior Cheridan Hawkins tossed her first career perfect game. Hawkins retired all 15 batters she faced on just 56 pitches with three strikeouts. It was Hawkins’ fifth career no-hitter and second of the season. It was the first perfect game thrown by a Duck since Jessica Moore against Arizona in 2013. Moore had her perfect game against the Wildcats the day after then-freshman Hawkins tossed her first career no-hitter in a win over the Wildcats.
HAWKINS TOSSES THREE NO-HITTERS
LHP Cheridan Hawkins threw her fourth career no-hitter on March 13 in the series opener against Oregon State. The junior allowed two baserunners via walks but kept the Beavers hitless through five innings in the Ducks’ 10-0 run-rule win. She threw her sixth in the opening game against the No. 9 ranked ULL in an 8-0 run-rule victory, which came after she also had the perfect game on March 27 vs. rival Washington. Her second no-hitter of the season was her perfect game against Washington on March 27.
SENIOR DAY MEMORY
Injured senior Jamie Rae Sullivan, who missed almost the entire season with a back injury, was in the starting lineup at first base on Senior Day against California in an emotional moment. After the first pitch, head coach Mike White subbed in starter Hailey Decker. Sullivan was White’s first commit on the recruiting trail.
A BUNCH BACK FOR 2016
While the Ducks graduate four seniors off the 2015 roster - including record-setting outfielder Janie Takeda and No. 2 pitcher Karissa Hovinga, Oregon returns a vast majority of its roster from a WCWS team. In 2016 Oregon will be led by seniors Cheridan Hawkins, Janelle Lindvall, Koral Costa, Hailey Decker, Geri Ann Glasco and Alyssa Gillespie. Oregon’s entire infield - Decker at first base. Lindvall at catcher plus rising sophomore Jenna Lilley at third, rising junior Nikki Udria at shortstop and rising junior Danica Mercado at second - will be back completely intact. Costa, Oregon’s centerfielder, returns after leading the team with 15 home runs. At the heart of the team is ace lefty Hawkins, who will be back for her senior year after claiming Pac-12 pitcher of the year honors as a sophomore and junior.
RECORDS WATCH FOR 2016
Cheridan Hawkins is within striking distance of Oregon’s all-time marks for wins (100), shutouts (31) and strikeouts (915) as she currently ranks second in all three categories. She needs 17 more wins, seven more shutouts and 92 more strikeouts to break all three records. Lindvall will make a run at Kailee Cuico’s career home run record (46) as she is just 14 away from breaking it.
INCOMING FRESHMEN FOR 2016
Oregon has six incoming freshmen for the 2016 season, highlighted by right-handed pitcher Megan Kleist. The Div. I state player of the year in Wisconsin, Kleist went 16-2 in her junior year with a 0.89 ERA and 140 strikeouts. She has led her Kimberly HS Papermakers back to the state championship game again in her senior year. Oregon also signed slugging first basemen Madi Bishop (Jonesboro, Ark.) and April Utecht (Richland, Wash.) for 2016. Utecht led Richland HS to a second place finish in the state tournament as a senior, when she also broke the Washington state high school home run record with 53 career bombs. Oregon also signed a pair of outfielders in Cherish Burks (Manteca, Calif.) and Marisa Given (Salinas, Calif.). Burks hit .533 her junior season while Given helped Notre Dame HS to back-to-back Div. III section titles as a junior and senior before being named Central Coast Section co-Player of the Year. Given was also a standout basketball player, knocking down 76 three-pointers in her senior season when she averaged a team-high 14.1 points per game. Oregon’s class rounds out with third baseman Autumn Miller (Elk Grove, Calif.). Miller hit .360 in her senior season at Pleasant Grove HS with 22 runs scored in 27 games.
