Ducks Drop Series Opener to UW

EUGENE, Ore. – No. 19 Oregon dropped the first game of its weekend series with No. 11 Washington, 9-0, Friday night in front of 1,868 at Jane Sanders Stadium.
 
Oregon starter Stevie Hansen did a good job getting ahead of hitters, but the Ducks had trouble finishing off at-bats. Of Washington's first five hits, four came on a two-strike count.
 
"We know how to play in these games, we know how to compete against these teams," said head coach Melyssa Lombardi. "It's just finishing it off."
 
How it Happened: The Huskies (26-11, 7-6) scored once in the first and could have had more but Hansen (10-6) got Sarah Willis to ground out to shortstop Paige Sinicki with runners on second and third to end the inning.
 
Oregon (26-14, 5-12), kept it a 1-0 game until the fourth inning, when Washington scored four times. The Huskies added another four runs in the fifth.
 
The Ducks got their lone hit of the game from Terra McGowan leading off the bottom of the first.
 
Noteworthy: Allison Benning matched her season-best with three strikeouts in relief. She also had a walk as the Ducks' designated player. … Ariel Carlson walked twice. … Tehya Bird started at third base for the first time in her career.
 
On Deck: Game two between the Ducks and Huskies will be Saturday at 5 p.m. (Pac-12 Network).
 
Quotable
Head Coach Melyssa Lombardi
"The biggest thing is that tomorrow's a new day. They have to let today go and be ready to come out and compete tomorrow, which I think they will."
 
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