Ducks Drop Series Opener at Stanford

STANFORD, Calif. – No. 21 Oregon scored three times in the second inning but No. 6 Stanford scored seven straight runs to win game one of the three-game series, 7-3, Friday at Smith Family Stadium
 
How it Happened: Oregon (27-17, 12-9) jumped in front 3-0 in the top of the second.
 
Freshman Katie Flannery led off with her third home run of the season, a drive to left field.
 
The next two batters, Vallery Wong and KK Humphreys, followed with singles. Wong was thrown out at the plate on Tehya Bird's fielder's choice. Regan Legg ran for Bird and stole second.  Paige Sinicki then brought Humphreys home with an RBI single.
 
The Ducks plated their third run of the inning thanks to consecutive hit-by-pitches. Ariel Carlson was hit first to load the bases before Emma Kauf was plunked to force in a run. The Ducks threatened to score more in the second but had two runners thrown out at the plate.
 
Stanford (41-11, 16-4) then scored the next seven runs – three in the second to tie it followed by two more in both the third and fourth.
 
Kai Luschar went 2-for-4 to raise her season batting average to .442. She also stole her Pac-12 best 26th base of the season.
 
Notable: Oregon stole three bases on Friday to increase its Pac-12 lead to 84 ... In addition to the home run, Flannery also doubled … Sinicki stole a base and is a perfect 11-for-11 on steals this season … Luschar's current season average is tied for fourth in the UO single-season list, while her 26 stolen bases are 10th … 26 steals is the most under coach Melyssa Lombardi is the most by a Duck since Alexis Mack had 28 steals in 2017 … Her .442 average would be the best by a Duck since Courtney Ceo set the school record at .493 in 2014 … Luschar is just .005 behind Utah's Abby Dayton for the league's batting crown.
 
On Deck: The series at Stanford continues Saturday at 4 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)
 
The Ducks enter Saturday in fourth place in the Pac-12, a half-game behind Washington (13-9).
 
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