Scouting Softball: Ducks Beat Beavers and Vikings, No. 9 Arizona On Deck

This is the first of a weekly series focused on recapping, previewing and discussing Oregon Softball. Game stats will be posted in the comment section after each game throughout the week. Feel free to use this article as a game thread for the upcoming series against the Arizona Wildcats.

The Oregon Duck Softball team had a highly successful and entertaining week at Jane Sanders Stadium. The peak of the action occurred during the third game of the Civil War series when Dj Sanders hit a grand slam and took back the all-time lead in the rivalry, which stands at 93-92-1, and the conclusion resulted in a perfect game for Miranda Elish.

Bet the Beavers are regretting that tie now!

OREGON VS OREGON STATE

GAME 1/ DUCKS 4 - BEAVERS 1

Although Miranda Elish is deservedly in the spotlight, Junior Megan Kleist is continuing a career of dominance. Kleist struck out every batter she faced at least once, recording 13 strikeouts. Her only blemish was a solo homer in the fifth which was nearly robbed by a Duck outfielder.

Luckily, Lauren Lindvall hit a solo homer in the third and Shannon Rhodes insured the victory with a two-run home run in the fifth. This was Rhodes second homer in two games, the last one being a three-run game-winner in the bottom of the seventh against the Bruins.

GAME 2/ DUCKS 3 - BEAVERS 4

This was a game of missed opportunities for the Ducks. In the first four innings, Oregon’s leadoff batter consistently reached first. They played their way to loaded bases in the third and fourth but failed to score both times. Meanwhile, the Beavers took advantage of the Ducks cold offense with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.

In the fifth, freshman Mary Lakopo hit a solo homer and Cruse’s game-tying run came after she put herself in scoring position with yet another double (her third in two games). Then, when the team needed her most, senior Gwen Svekis tied the game with a home run- her 9th on the season and a team-high. Alas, the comeback was cut short by a Beaver walk-off homer.

Oregon State’s win tied the all-time series and snapped the Ducks’ 16-game civil war streak which started March 26th, 2012. The game was also the first collegiate loss for Elish (23-1), though it would not take long for her to rebound.

GAME 3/ DUCKS 5 - BEAVERS 1 (8)

After falling behind by one in the third inning, the Ducks tied in the fifth behind a Lauren Burke RBI single. Megan Kleist struck out five and kept the Beavers scoreless for seven innings. The highly praised DJ Sanders hadn’t hit a homer since Feb. 25th, but in the eighth, she hit a grand slam that broke the tie, both in the game and in the all-time series. It took a 17-1 streak but the Ducks are Civil War champions.

PAC-12 Standings

1st Arizona State (5-1-0) 31-4-0

2nd Washington (7-2-0) 36-2-0

3rd UCLA (7-2-0) 32-2-0

4th Arizona (6-3-0) 27-6-0

5th Oregon (4-2-0) 29-6-0

6th Oregon State (3-6-0) 20-15-0

7th Utah (2-7-0) 17-15-0

8th Stanford (1-5-0) 20-14-0

9th California (1-8-0) 26-11-0

ELISH PLUNDERS VIKINGS

The Ducks swept the Portland State Vikings in a doubleheader following the Civil War series. Maggie Balint (7-1) struck out six and allowed only two walks while leading her team to an 8-2 win, yet was still outshined by the perfect performance of Elish.

Half an hour after lighting up the scoreboard, the Ducks found themselves struggling to score. The second game of the series turned into a pitchers duel between Elish and Vikings pitcher Emma Detamore, resulting in four scoreless innings. However, to truly match Elish Detamore needed to throw a perfect game, and Alexis Mack and April Utecht made sure that didn’t happen.

Miranda Elish’s seven-inning perfect game is the first in Duck history, the fourth overall perfect game in Duck history and the first ever at Jane Sanders Stadium.

UP NEXT: No. 9 Arizona Wildcats

• The Arizona Wildcats are 27-6 on the season and 6-3 in conference play.
• Their most impressive wins are against no. 2 Oklahoma, a three-game series sweep against then-no. 22 California, and two wins over then-no. 24 SC Upstate.
• Their biggest losses are against Oklahoma State and a three-game sweep at the hands of the no. 1 team in the country, the Washington Huskies.
• Taylor McQuillin did not allow an earned run in 16 innings last weekend against Cal.
• McQuillin is tied for first in the nation with nine shutouts.
• Jessie Harper leads the conference with 12 homers and the Wildcats as a team lead the country in home runs per game.
• The Wildcats lead the all-time series against the Ducks 83-28, though Oregon has swept the last two series in Eugene.

Friday, April 6th, 5 pm, PAC-12 NETWORK

Saturday, April 7th, 12 pm, ESPN

Sunday, April 8th, 3 pm, PAC-12 NETWORK