Sunday, April 14
Los Angeles, CA
1:00 PM
University of Oregon
1
at
8
UCLA
Photo by: Josh Lavallee
Ducks Battle, But Fall Late at No. 1 UCLA
04/14/19 | Softball
LOS ANGELES – The Oregon softball team was tied with No. 1 UCLA going into the bottom of the sixth, but the Bruins struck for a seven-run inning to win the rubber match, 8-1, and take the series on Sunday afternoon at Easton Stadium.
The Ducks (17-21, 2-10 Pac-12) showed tremendous fight throughout the entire series against the unanimous No. 1 team in the country, headlined by a 4-3 win in Friday's series opener.
How it Happened: Making her third start of the weekend and Pac-12-most 26th of the season, sophomore Jordan Dail kept the Bruins off the board through the first two frames. A pair of errors hurt the Ducks in the third, putting a runner on third before UCLA took 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly. Freshman Jasmine Sievers, who made a tremendous diving play in foul territory in the second, turned a 6-3 double play to end the inning and prevent any more damage.
Oregon was able to tag Garcia for a run in the fifth and tie the game thanks to great hustle on the base paths and patience at the plate. Allee Bunker and Shaye Bowden both beat out infield singles to get things started, and freshman walk-on Katelyn Howard worked a big walk with two outs to load the bases. Cruse then bounced a slow roller to the left side to score Bunker and make it a 1-1 ballgame. The play was originally ruled an RBI single but was later changed to an error.
At the Plate: Bunker finished 2-for-3 and Cruse was 1-for-3 while bringing in the run as both Ducks continued their recent hot hitting. Bunker is now batting .483 (15-for-31) over the last 10 games, and Cruse is hitting .438 (14-for-32) during that same stretch. Bowden added Oregon's fifth hit in her return to the lineup after missing the last two games.
In the Circle: Dail (14-10) was terrific through the first five innings, allowing just one unearned run with a strikeout. The Bruins got to her for six runs in the sixth, and freshman Kailey Krueger allowed one run in an inning of relief.4
Notable: Senior April Utecht saw her 10-game reached-base streak come to an end … The Ducks committed three errors for the second straight game, tying their season high.
Up Next: After playing 32 of their first 38 games on the road, the Ducks will open a stretch of nine straight home games on Thursday against California at Jane Sanders Stadium.
The Ducks (17-21, 2-10 Pac-12) showed tremendous fight throughout the entire series against the unanimous No. 1 team in the country, headlined by a 4-3 win in Friday's series opener.
How it Happened: Making her third start of the weekend and Pac-12-most 26th of the season, sophomore Jordan Dail kept the Bruins off the board through the first two frames. A pair of errors hurt the Ducks in the third, putting a runner on third before UCLA took 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly. Freshman Jasmine Sievers, who made a tremendous diving play in foul territory in the second, turned a 6-3 double play to end the inning and prevent any more damage.
The Ducks threatened in the fourth after a Haley Cruse single and a hit-by-pitch to open the inning, but reigning national player of the year Rachel Garcia came on and got a strikeout and a double play to end the frame.WOW! What a catch by @jassievers! ??
— Oregon Softball (@OregonSB) April 14, 2019
?? https://t.co/2UOnaJ8Wym#SCTop10 | #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/Fv9pqqAD5I
Oregon was able to tag Garcia for a run in the fifth and tie the game thanks to great hustle on the base paths and patience at the plate. Allee Bunker and Shaye Bowden both beat out infield singles to get things started, and freshman walk-on Katelyn Howard worked a big walk with two outs to load the bases. Cruse then bounced a slow roller to the left side to score Bunker and make it a 1-1 ballgame. The play was originally ruled an RBI single but was later changed to an error.
Bowden helped keep UCLA scoreless in the bottom of the fifth with her Pac-12-best 13th runner caught stealing, and Bunker singled with two outs in the top of the sixth but was stranded at first. UCLA opened the bottom of the sixth with a pair of singles, and Garcia helped her own cause with a three-run home run just inside the left-field foul pole. The Bruins added four more on a grand slam to break things open, and the Ducks went down in order in the seventh as UCLA won the game and the series.We're all tied, 1-1, going to B5 after @haley_crusee tied the game with this RBI infield single! #GoDucks
— Oregon Softball (@OregonSB) April 14, 2019
?? https://t.co/2UOnaJ8Wym pic.twitter.com/86Ciy8zsGQ
At the Plate: Bunker finished 2-for-3 and Cruse was 1-for-3 while bringing in the run as both Ducks continued their recent hot hitting. Bunker is now batting .483 (15-for-31) over the last 10 games, and Cruse is hitting .438 (14-for-32) during that same stretch. Bowden added Oregon's fifth hit in her return to the lineup after missing the last two games.
In the Circle: Dail (14-10) was terrific through the first five innings, allowing just one unearned run with a strikeout. The Bruins got to her for six runs in the sixth, and freshman Kailey Krueger allowed one run in an inning of relief.4
Notable: Senior April Utecht saw her 10-game reached-base streak come to an end … The Ducks committed three errors for the second straight game, tying their season high.
Up Next: After playing 32 of their first 38 games on the road, the Ducks will open a stretch of nine straight home games on Thursday against California at Jane Sanders Stadium.
