The Oregon Ducks (4-4) got off to a rough start in the Campbell/Cartier Classic with a pair of losses to the Texas A&M Aggies (5-0) and the Loyola Marymount Lions (2-3). After a 4-2 start to the season, the Ducks were looking to build on some momentum they had built after a strong offensive showing last weekend. However, Oregon was only able to muster a single run on the day, falling 4-1 to the Aggies and 4-0 to the Lions.
The Ducks started the day off strong with Kai Luschar recording a hit as the first Oregon batter. She was able to reach third base on a groundout, after reaching second base on a wild pitch. However, the next two batters were unable to bring her home, and the Ducks went scoreless into the 2nd inning.
Texas A&M was able to capitalize on the door being left open. Trinity Cannon and Jazmine Hill recorded singles as the first two batters of the inning, and both were able to reach home later in the inning to give the Aggies an early 2-0 lead.
Luschar was able to get on base again for Oregon in the bottom of the 3rd inning. This time the Ducks were able to get on the board after loading the bases. Unfortunately for Oregon, that would be the only run scored in the inning after Texas A&M was able to get two-straight outs with the bases loaded to prevent any more damage being done to the lead.
The next two innings featured a pitching battle. The 4th and 5th innings saw one lone hit between the teams as the Aggies were able to keep a firm hold on their slight lead. That allowed Texas A&M to extend the lead in the 6th inning, putting Oregon away with two runs in the inning.
The Ducks were unable to recover from the deficit and ended up falling 4-1. Oregon’s Morgan Scott received the loss in game one. She pitched 5.2 innings, allowing six hits and four runs. For the Aggies, Emiley Kennedy earned the win by pitching all seven innings and allowing just five hits and one run.
The Ducks didn’t get much of a break, taking on Loyola Marymount right after. This game went similarly for Oregon.
The Ducks were able to record a couple hits in the first three innings, but were unable to do anything on the scoreboard. The Lions were able to respond by opening the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd. They had a runner reach first base on a fielding error, then recorded two more hits to end the inning with a 2-0 lead.
Oregon’s offense continued to stall throughout the next couple of innings, but the defense was able to make up for it. In the 4th and 5th innings, the Ducks allowed just one hit to keep themselves in the game.
The game broke wide open in the bottom of the 6th inning. Jasmine Sofowora hit a home run with two outs that brought Izzy Jamgotchian home as well to take a 4-0 lead. If Oregon had any hopes of a comeback, those hopes were dashed with those final scores. After getting two runners on base in the top of the 7th, the Ducks failed to score once again and the game ended 4-0.
After starting the season as one of the nation’s top-ranked teams, the Ducks have fallen to 4-4 and have an uphill battle early in the 2024 season.
Day two of the Campbell/Cartier Classic kicks off tomorrow. Oregon will begin with a rematch against Loyola Marymount before taking on the San Diego State Aztecs to round out the second day.
