Baseball and softball got their respective series against Nebraska and Maryland off on the right foot with Game 1 wins. Here is how the action went down:
Softball Game 1 vs. Maryland
Oregon softball picked up a five inning, run-rule win yesterday over the Maryland Terrapins, 11-0.
The Terps picked up only three hits in the game, with all left on base. Ace Lyndsey Grein (8-1) started and pitched for the first four innings, allowing 2 hits and no BBs with 8 Ks.
Oregon’s bats were silent in the first two innings before exploding in a 5-run third inning. With two on base, Emma Cox opened up Oregon’s scoring deluge with a home run.
In the fourth inning, Maryland gifted the Ducks with baserunners, as they walked three of the first four hitters of the inning. The third walk was bases-loaded with no outs, and Cox plated. Oregon then scored two more with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single. The fourth run of the inning resulted from a double steal.
In the fifth inning, Oregon added two more with Amari Harper’s home run.
Maddie Milhorn pitched the final inning, allowing a hit while striking out two, including the final out of the game.
This game’s outcome was hardly a surprise, as Maryland is not very good this year at softball. Also, Grein was pitching. Today’s game 2 could become unnecessarily interesting with a different starting pitcher, presumably Milhorn. That game has an early 11:00 am PT start today.
Baseball Game 1 vs. Nebraska
Starter Will Sanford reverted back to form yesterday, giving the Ducks a solid six innings in their 7-6 Game 1 victory.
Sanford started choppy in the first inning, and the Huskers scored an RBI single in the first inning with two outs.
Nebraska’s Ty Horn was able to skirt trouble in the first three innings, but the Ducks got to him and took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with a 2-RBI double from Naulivou Lauaki Jr.
The Huskers answered to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning.
Nebraska had a pitching change in the bottom of the inning, and Drew Smith had some thoughts with his bat for the new pitcher.
The Ducks scored three more in the bottom of the sixth inning. The sixth was delayed for nearly two hours as a massive lightning storm rolled through the southern Willamette valley – very unusual weather for the middle of April.
The Ducks returned to the field with some thunder of their own. Home runs by Brayden Jaksa and Ryan Cooney gave Oregon a 7-2 lead, and they should be able to make that stick, right?
Oregon’s relievers nearly handed the lead back in the eighth inning, allowing four runs, and the Huskers were back in the game.
While this was going on, Nebraska’s relievers were giving up nothing, and it looked like Oregon’s pitching was going to have to step up and take this thing. In spite of an infield error in the top of the ninth inning, Devin Bell was able to secure the win with his eighth save of the season.
Here is your final line:
Today’s Game 2 has been moved to an earlier start, as inclement weather will continue to roll through Eugene through the weekend. First pitch is at 12:05 pm PT, with Collin Clarke taking the mound.
