The Oregon softball team split Saturday’s doubleheader against Louisiana-Lafayette at Howe Field, improving to 41-5 on the season. Oregon won the first game in a rule-ruled fashion, 10-2 before winning the second, 2-1 in eight innings.
Game 1: No. 2 Oregon 10, No. 9 ULL 2
In the bottom of the first, Nikki Udria drew a leadoff walk. After back-to-back errors by the Ragin’ Cajuns, the Ducks scored to make it 1-0 Oregon. Gerri Ann Glasco followed that up with a bases loaded walk for Oregon’s second run of the afternoon.
UL issued another bases loaded walk, this time to Koral Costa, to push the Oregon lead to 3-0.
The Ducks tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the second after an RBI fielder’s choice by Hailey Decker. Janie Takeda stole home to give the Ducks a 5-0 lead.
The Ragin’ Cajuns got their first run of the series via a solo shot by Aleah Craighton to left center in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 5-1. Oregon starter Cheridan Hawkins fanned her sixth batter of the game in the top of the fourth to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, Udria hit a leadoff single, Takeda doubled and Jenna Lilley grounded out, scoring Udria.
Costa followed that up with three-RBI double off the wall, pushing the Duck lead to 9-1. In all, Oregon scored four runs in the fourth.
UL answered with solo homer in the top of the fifth, but Lilley doubled in a run in the bottom of the fith to run-rule the Ragin’ Cajuns, 10-2. Hawkins took the win.
Game 2: No. 2 Oregon 2, No. 9 ULL 1 (8 innings)
The game was scoreless through three innings, before the Ragin’ Cajuns scored in the top of the fourth. With two outs, UL drew two walks. UL’s Craighton scored after Leandra Maly knocked her in. UO’s Alyssa Gillespie snagged a fly out on the warning track to end the inning.
In the Oregon side of the fourth Udria and Lilley clubbed base hits before the game entered a 56- minute rain delay. Glasco would go on to strike out, ending the inning.
“I think the coaches talked about we came out a little flat in the second game, not as much energy,” Udria said. “This one was much more exciting to play. … It’s really fun. It’s a taste of postseason.”
The Ducks threatened in the bottom of the fifth after Udria doubled, but couldn’t score. Hawkins entered the game for the Ducks in the top of the seventh in relief of Jasmine Smithson-Willet. Oregon knotted the game up at 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh after Danica Mercado scored on an error by UL’s second baseman.
Hawkins allowed a base runner in the top of the eighth. In the Ducks’ side of the eighth, Lilley led off with a single. Decker bunted a pop over the UL pitcher, advancing Lilley. Glasco got aboard, loading the bases with nobody out before Janelle Lindvall popped a sacrifice fly, scoring Lilley and icing the game for Oregon.
Hawkins earned the win in relief, striking out three of the four batters she faced. She’s now 23-3 with an ERA of 1.13.
“We had a lot of people fight and fight to get on,” head coach Mike White. “We had a lot of heroes today. It was really good to see us battle against a really good pitcher.”
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne