Early Homers Not Enough in Series Finale

TEMPE, Ariz. – No. 8 Oregon jumped out to an early lead once again, hitting a pair of second-inning homers, but couldn't hang on in a 9-6 loss at No. 12 Arizona State in the series finale Sunday.
 
How it Happened: For the third time this series, Oregon struck first, going up 4-0 in the second inning behind a pair of two-run homers. After Rachel Cid led off the inning with a single, Ariel Carlson came up two batters later and took one out the other way to right center to make it 2-0. Allee Bunker reached on an error, and Terra McGowan took advantage by blasting another two-run shot out to straight away center.
 
ASU (31-12, 11-7 Pac-12) once again used a big inning to jump in front, scoring six runs in the third inning. Kindra Hackbarth hit a two-run homer and Maddi Hackbarth followed with a run-scoring single to chase Oregon starter Brooke Yanez. Makenna Harper hit a three-run homer off reliever Samaria Diaz to go in front 6-4.
 
The Sun Devils used the long ball again in the fifth to extend the lead with a leadoff solo homer, making it 7-4. They added two more in the sixth to break it open and take a 9-4 lead.
 
The Ducks (31-13, 9-9 Pac-12) got a rally going in the seventh, scoring a pair of runs to cut the deficit to three. Shaye Bowden singled home Hanna Delgado before pinch-runner Hannah Galey scored on a groundout but a flyout ended the game with the tying run in the on deck circle.
 
Notable: McGowan finished the weekend 7-for-16 (.438) with three runs scored, recording multiple hits in three of the four games … Delgado also turned in a strong weekend, going 7-for-15 (.467) with a pair of runs scored … Carlson's homer was her first of the season, making her the 11th different Duck to go yard this year … Her home run was also the 19th by the Ducks that has either tied the game or given them the lead.
 
On Deck: The Ducks return home for the final home series of the regular season against Arizona starting Friday at 5 p.m. (ESPN2).