Lauren Lindvall had no problem hitting the first pitch she saw on Saturday.
No. 2 Oregon used five home runs — two by Lindvall — to run-rule No. 18 California 9-0 on Saturday at Howe Field in front of the first sell out crowd of the year.
Lindvall’s two homers came on the first two pitches she saw from the Golden Bears to lead off the second and third inning, helping the Ducks improve to 43-5 on the season.
“Nothing’s routine, never routine,” head coach Mike White said. ‘That’s a good club and right now things are going our way a little bit, which is good. We’re doing the right things to make it happen that way.”
Oregon got started quickly in the first inning after Jenna Lilley drew a walk and Hailey Decker knocked her on a two-run home run. Oregon threatened to score again after it got two runners on board, but couldn’t bring them in.
The Ducks’ Geri Ann Glasco recorded a perfect second inning against California. Glasco earned the win, improving to 7-1. She pitched 3.1 scoreless innings, giving up two hits and issuing four walks.
Lindvall, who was 3-for-3 at the plate, led off the second with a homer.
“It’s awesome when everyone does well and everyone picks each other up,” Lindvall said.
Danica Mercado got on base with a single and Nicolette Udria blasted a two-run home run to score her. The Ducks threatened again in the second, loading the bases, but Cal’s Katie Sutherland-Finch got out of the jam.
“Today our timing was better,” White said.
In the top of the third, Cal had runners on first and second after a walk and a single, but Glasco ended the inning on a ground out.
Lindvall’s lead-off home run in the bottom of the third put the Ducks up 5-0.
“She’s got to know that lower down the order, people are going to come at her a little bit,” White said. “I told her, ‘Just free it up. Be aggressive.’ And she listened. She was aggressive and she got the hits she needed. It was good to see.”
Karissa Hovinga entered the game in Cal’s side of the fourth, recording a strikeout to get out of a bases-loaded jam.
“She did an excellent job to get out of that bases loaded jam there,” White said. “That was good to see.”
After a Golden Bear walk, Glasco clubbed a two-run homer. Hailey Decker doubled and Janelle Lindvall drove in Decker on a single.
Oregon will return to Howe Field Sunday for the third game of the series against California, 12 p.m. Pac-12 Networks.
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne