Wildcats Up Next for Oregon Softball

THIS WEEK
The gauntlet for the Oregon softball program continues this weekend with its third-straight series against a 2021 NCAA Tournament team. The Ducks visit No. 25 Arizona Thursday though Saturday. The Ducks are in the midst of a stretch that finds them playing 18-of-19 games against teams currently ranked in the top 25, as well as 13 consecutive games versus 2021 NCAA Tournament teams. Arizona leads the all-time series 89-34.

GAME NOTES

THE 10 GRADUATES
Ten Ducks will have earned their college degrees by the end of the summer. Three are already college graduates - Jordan Dail, Terra McGowan and Brooke Yanez. Allee Bunker, Rachel Cid, Hannah Galey, Katelyn Howard, Makenna Kliethermes and Karissa Ornelas will graduate at the end of this quarter, while Jasmine Williams will complete her degree this summer. 

SCHEDULE STRENGTH
Ranked 16th in the RPI, the Ducks have played the sixth-most difficult schedule nationally this season. Of the Ducks' 24 wins, 18 have come against teams currently ranked among the RPI top 100.

RUN DUCKS RUN
Oregon has swiped 64 bases in 76 attempts this season. Compare that to the opposition, which has 17 steals in 27 tries. The Ducks set a school record with nine steals March 21 at BYU. Oregon has stolen at least three bases 11 times this season. The Ducks are second in the Pac-12 and 25th nationally in stolen bases (1.83 per game).

SCOREGON
Oregon is fourth in the Pac-12 and 14th nationally in scoring at 6.57 runs per game. 

POWER PRODUCTION BOOST
Oregon's power numbers have jumped compared to 2021. Last season, the Ducks hit 54 home runs in 57 games. This season, the Ducks have already hit 44 home runs in 35 games. Other numbers are on the rise as well.

                    2021 Total    2022 Current    2022 Projection    Increase
Home Runs    54                    44                        63                    15%
Runs              269                 230                      329                    22%
RBI                 258                205                       293                   14%
SLG Pct.        .459               .520                      .520                   13%    

The Ducks hit 17 home runs during their five-game trip through North Carolina in March. Vallery Wong hit five of them, Ariel Carlson smacked four, KK Humphreys hit three and Allee Bunker and Gabby Herrera both hit two.