For two and a half innings on Saturday night, the Oregon Ducks and UCLA Bruins were locked in a scoreless tie in Game 1 of their NCAA super regional. Then, in the bottom of the third, the Ducks blew the game wide open with a five-hit, six-run inning.
After a bunt single from Alyssa Gillespie and a walk from Jenna Lilley, Nikki Udria singled to drive home the game's first run. Koral Costa then doubled to right-center, driving in another run. In the next at-bat, Geri Ann Glasco drove home two more runs with a single. Janelle Lindvall capped off the big inning with a two-run home run to left field, making it 6-0.
That was all Cheridan Hawkins would need as the Oregon starter threw seven innings, giving up one run on just four hits while striking out five and walking two.
The Bruins managed just one run on the night in the fourth inning.
Oregon added two more insurance runs off Lindvall's second home run of the night as she launched a pitch over the center field fence.
The Ducks are now one win away from their third straight trip to the Women's College World Series. Should UCLA win tomorrow, a second game will follow to determine who will make the trip to Oklahoma City.