Oregon is at the Mary Nutter collegiate classic this weekend to play some highly anticipated non-conference softball games. After a disappointing opening weekend at the NFCA leadoff classic followed by a mixed result weekend at the Cardinal classic the Ducks are in desperate need of some marquee non-conference wins for the resume.
Thursday the Ducks had a great opportunity with 2 games against SEC teams.
Getting things started was a morning matchup against Auburn
Auburn
Auburn came into this week unranked
in Softball with a 9-3 record. Although of those 9 wins 4 of them came against lower levels of competition and 3 others came against B1G teams which we all know isn’t that impressive.
Perhaps wanting to save her best arm for the afternoon game Coach Lombardi elected to start Taylour Spencer and it did not go well. Spencer couldn’t even get out of the first inning before the Tigers jumped all over her going up 3-0 on a 3 run home run early. Elise Sokolsky came in to relieve her and was able to limit the 1st inning damage before the game got too far away from the Ducks but nonetheless Oregon was in a big hole early.
The Ducks would quickly answer in the bottom half of the first thanks to an Amari Harper 2 run homer to dead-center field and just as they had fallen behind the Ducks were right back in it down only 1.
Just as the Top of the 1st went though the Ducks pitchers were just not on their game early as Elise Sokolsky gave up a 3 run homer as well and once again the Ducks were trailing by a substantial margin down 6-2 mid way through 2.
The back and forth offensive affair would continue into the bottom half though as the Ducks were able to plate two more runs thanks to a bunt dropped down by Taryn Ho that the Tigers had trouble fielding as they committed multiple errors that would allow both Ho and Ma’ake (who was hit by a pitch) to score.
Auburn would hit their 3rd home run of the game in the 3rd inning, this time a solo shot, to make the game 7-4 and that’s where the score would stay at all the way until the bottom of the 6th inning.
The Ducks were able to load the bases with only one out for Amari Harper who would hit a sac-fly to score Presley Lawton and draw the Ducks within 2, but that was all the offence they could muster with the opportunity. In the top of the 7th the Tigers would tack on 3 more runs to real seal this one and eventually take the game by a score of 10-5.
Another disappointing showing early in this season as the Ducks are just not firing on all cylinders like we would hope they would especially against what we would think is inferior competition. Oregon is just taking on to many losses right now if they have any hopes of hosting their own regional this Spring.
Texas A&M
In the 2nd Thursday game the Ducks took on #11 Texas A&M. Last year’s number 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament Oregon was set to face before the Aggies shockingly fell to Liberty.
After a tough loss to start the tournament it was looking like things were going to go from bad to worse having to play the Aggies.
Coach Lombardi went with her Ace in this one as Grein was the only pitcher not to pitch in the first game against Auburn and when the Ducks needed her most Grein absolutely delivered facing one over the minimum through 2 and then escaping a bases loaded jam unscathed in the 3rd to keep the game scoreless as the Ducks bats couldn’t get anything going themselves.
A&M would strike first in the 4th inning with a solo home run to center field but Lyndsey didn’t let it faze her and she kept dealing to keep the Aggies at 1 run. In the bottom half Elon Butler would help out her pitcher with a solo home run of her own to tie the game.
Jump to the 6th where Texas A&M had two runners and a line drive looked like it could be trouble for the Ducks. Alas it was Katie Flannery to the rescue to snag the ball out of the air and end the inning to keep the game tied for the offence in the bottom half.
In that inning the Ducks once again had the bases loaded with only 1 out. Rylee McCoy would ground into a fielders choice to give the Ducks the slim lead only 3 outs away from picking up their biggest win of the season.
Grein would get the first batter in the 7th out before conceding a single. Lombardi decided to give her the hook after a fantastic 6 and 1/3 of 1 run ball and turn it over to Sokolsky to get the save which is exactly what she was able to do.
When the Ducks needed it most Lyndsey Grein delivered an absolute gem against a very good team to give Oregon it’s best win of the season.
While most things aren’t going well for the softball team right now one of the best things that is going for this team is Lyndsey Grein who boasts 2.01 ERA through 31+ innings this season and is a big reason the Ducks have been able to get the 6 wins they do have.
Oregon will look to build on this momentum against #13 South Carolina and Cal State Fullerton on Friday before closing out Mary Nutter against #20 Duke on Saturday.
