Photo by: Samuel Marshall
Ducks Hit Stretch Run At Full Tilt
04/17/19 | Softball, @GoDucksMoseley
The Oregon softball team believes it's playing its best entering the final weeks of the regular season, beginning Thursday at home against Cal.
A full-extension, diving catch in foul territory Sunday by Oregon shortstop Jasmine Sievers caught the eye of the nation, earning national play of the week honors from the NCAA's softball Twitter account.
More than that, it felt like a personification of the Ducks' 2019 season. When the ball left the bat, there seemed little chance Sievers would be able to get to it, from her spot in the middle of the infield all the way into foul territory in short left field. But Sievers was undaunted — doubt never entered her mind, she put maximum effort into making the play, and she came up with the catch.
So, too, have these Ducks been undaunted by preseason expectations following a coaching change and significant roster turnover. They've put their heads down, played the game with great intensity, and now are in position to be rewarded.
The Oregon softball team returns home to Jane Sanders Stadium for just the third time this season beginning Thursday, when the Ducks kick off an eight-game homestand against California (5 p.m., Pac-12 Network). The Ducks have played four conference series to this point, all against the top four teams in the Pac-12 standings entering this week, and all but one on the road. Now, they're entering a stretch run in which they'll play four teams bunched together lower in the standings, all but one at home.
To be sure, the odds of earning a postseason berth might seem long now. Oregon is 17-21 overall, and 2-10 in Pac-12 play. But if the Ducks play as a team the way they have all season — the way Sievers did on her play of the week at UCLA — they like their chances.
"It's always been the same goal," Sievers said Tuesday. "I don't think anything has changed, even from the beginning. We just expected to make it to the postseason. So I think if we do, it wouldn't be a surprise for us."
The Ducks have themselves in position to keep dreaming big thanks in no small part to the left arm of pitcher Jordan Dail, who continues to lead the Pac-12 with 167 2/3 innings pitched. Seniors Cherish Burks and April Utecht have provided clutch moments, including Utecht's homer to help upset No. 1 UCLA last Friday. More veteran leadership has been provided by the steadying hand of center fielder Haley Cruse, and the versatility of sophomore Shaye Bowden.
And the Ducks have thrived as well thanks to heady performances by their young infield, including Sievers. She leads the team in hitting with a .344 average, and her fellow freshman on the left side of the infield, third baseman Rachel Cid, has three homers in Pac-12 play, tops on the team.
At UCLA on Sunday, their throws to first were handled by fellow freshman Lexi Wagner. And a fourth freshman, Allee Bunker, rounded out the infield by playing second base — and continuing to swing a hot bat.
Bunker had two hits for the Ducks on Sunday, and is hitting .395 in conference play. That's second on the team behind Cruse, who for the second year in a row has taken it up a notch against Pac-12 competition, and is batting .400 in 12 conference games.
Bunker is hitting almost 100 points better in Pac-12 play than she did in the nonconference season, thanks to an adjustment she made to her swing after watching video of herself from last summer. That's been yet another example by the Ducks of continuing to strive for more — despite their roller coaster season — in hopes of ending on a high note.
"We've definitely played a good schedule up to this point, to where we're feeling confident going into these next home games," Bunker said. "We're very happy to be at home in front of our crowd, because that's definitely an advantage, here at 'The Jane' with how great our fans are. We're really looking forward to this weekend, and just pulling out some wins here in the next few weeks."
A week ago at this time, first-year UO coach Melyssa Lombardi spoke of her pride in Oregon's competitive fire, and how excited she was to see it on display against mighty UCLA. She ended up looking like a sage, when the Ducks handed the Bruins their first Pac-12 loss of the season.
From Lombardi down to the players, the Ducks feel they're playing their best softball as they enter the season's stretch run. Sievers' effort on her catch in foul territory may have come in a loss, but it showed the level at which Oregon is competing.
"You look at a season and sometimes you can see a team come right out of the gates and they're playing great, and they just end up peaking too soon," Lombardi said. "I think we're peaking at the right time. And I think they're realizing that, as well. …
"Their fight, and them knowing how to dig deep when things aren't going well, is going to be huge for us down the stretch."
More than that, it felt like a personification of the Ducks' 2019 season. When the ball left the bat, there seemed little chance Sievers would be able to get to it, from her spot in the middle of the infield all the way into foul territory in short left field. But Sievers was undaunted — doubt never entered her mind, she put maximum effort into making the play, and she came up with the catch.
So, too, have these Ducks been undaunted by preseason expectations following a coaching change and significant roster turnover. They've put their heads down, played the game with great intensity, and now are in position to be rewarded.
The Oregon softball team returns home to Jane Sanders Stadium for just the third time this season beginning Thursday, when the Ducks kick off an eight-game homestand against California (5 p.m., Pac-12 Network). The Ducks have played four conference series to this point, all against the top four teams in the Pac-12 standings entering this week, and all but one on the road. Now, they're entering a stretch run in which they'll play four teams bunched together lower in the standings, all but one at home.
To be sure, the odds of earning a postseason berth might seem long now. Oregon is 17-21 overall, and 2-10 in Pac-12 play. But if the Ducks play as a team the way they have all season — the way Sievers did on her play of the week at UCLA — they like their chances.
#NCAASoftball Plays of the Week ??
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) April 16, 2019
1? | Jasmine Sievers coming in HOT! ?? @OregonSB pic.twitter.com/GxZ22DhU52
"It's always been the same goal," Sievers said Tuesday. "I don't think anything has changed, even from the beginning. We just expected to make it to the postseason. So I think if we do, it wouldn't be a surprise for us."
The Ducks have themselves in position to keep dreaming big thanks in no small part to the left arm of pitcher Jordan Dail, who continues to lead the Pac-12 with 167 2/3 innings pitched. Seniors Cherish Burks and April Utecht have provided clutch moments, including Utecht's homer to help upset No. 1 UCLA last Friday. More veteran leadership has been provided by the steadying hand of center fielder Haley Cruse, and the versatility of sophomore Shaye Bowden.
And the Ducks have thrived as well thanks to heady performances by their young infield, including Sievers. She leads the team in hitting with a .344 average, and her fellow freshman on the left side of the infield, third baseman Rachel Cid, has three homers in Pac-12 play, tops on the team.
At UCLA on Sunday, their throws to first were handled by fellow freshman Lexi Wagner. And a fourth freshman, Allee Bunker, rounded out the infield by playing second base — and continuing to swing a hot bat.
Bunker had two hits for the Ducks on Sunday, and is hitting .395 in conference play. That's second on the team behind Cruse, who for the second year in a row has taken it up a notch against Pac-12 competition, and is batting .400 in 12 conference games.
Bunker is hitting almost 100 points better in Pac-12 play than she did in the nonconference season, thanks to an adjustment she made to her swing after watching video of herself from last summer. That's been yet another example by the Ducks of continuing to strive for more — despite their roller coaster season — in hopes of ending on a high note.
"We've definitely played a good schedule up to this point, to where we're feeling confident going into these next home games," Bunker said. "We're very happy to be at home in front of our crowd, because that's definitely an advantage, here at 'The Jane' with how great our fans are. We're really looking forward to this weekend, and just pulling out some wins here in the next few weeks."
A week ago at this time, first-year UO coach Melyssa Lombardi spoke of her pride in Oregon's competitive fire, and how excited she was to see it on display against mighty UCLA. She ended up looking like a sage, when the Ducks handed the Bruins their first Pac-12 loss of the season.
From Lombardi down to the players, the Ducks feel they're playing their best softball as they enter the season's stretch run. Sievers' effort on her catch in foul territory may have come in a loss, but it showed the level at which Oregon is competing.
"You look at a season and sometimes you can see a team come right out of the gates and they're playing great, and they just end up peaking too soon," Lombardi said. "I think we're peaking at the right time. And I think they're realizing that, as well. …
"Their fight, and them knowing how to dig deep when things aren't going well, is going to be huge for us down the stretch."
