This time around, the Ducks didn’t let the Bison stick around.
A six-plus inning two-hit performance from Karissa Hovinga and a balanced Oregon offensive attack sealed the deal for the Ducks, who downed No. 25-ranked North Dakota State 6-1 at Howe Field on Saturday.
The victory advances No. 1-ranked Oregon (49-6) to the NCAA Super Regional, which will be held at Howe Field next weekend. The Ducks will play the winner of the Harrisburg Regional in a three-game series, which a trip to the Women’s College World Series at stake.
Hovinga improves to 11-1 on the season after allowing one run on just two hits and two walks against a NDSU offense that entered the post season hitting .337 at the plate. She struck out six Bison.
“The entire weekend, I was mentally preparing myself to start. When he (head coach Mike White) told me I was starting today, I was pretty pumped,” Hovinga said. “I was thinking that at the back of my head, hope I get it. And I did.”
The Ducks wasted no time getting on the board, recording two runs in the top half of the first. Nikki Udria was hit by a pitch, before Hailey Decker drilled a two-run home run right over the center field fence with two outs.
“I wasn’t thinking too much, just trying to drive a ball in, and it ended up going out,” Decker said of her two-run blast.
With the win, White is now 18-0 in NCAA Regional games.
“We’re just happy to keep winning,” White said. “We treat every opponent as an equal.”
Hovinga retired the Bison in order in the first before Janelle Lindvall bunted her way aboard in the Oregon side of the second. Koral Costa doubled off the bottom of the left field fence. The Ducks, however, were unable to score.
NDSU recorded its only base hit of the game in the bottom of the second after Bison third baseman Amanda Grable singled. Just after, Hovinga snagged Jackie Stiffer’s line drive and doubled up Grable at first.
“I think they (the Ducks) are just loaded all the way through,” NDSU head coach Darren Mueller said. “… They’re probably one of the best teams we’ve played over the last couple of years.”
The Ducks tacked on another run in the third after Janie Takeda singled, Jenna Lilley walked and Janelle Lindvall drilled a line drive, scoring Takeda. Costa later walked, but the Ducks stranded three, holding a 3-0 lead.
Neither the Bison or Ducks score in the fourth. Lilley helped Hovinga by starting a double play from third to shut down the NDSU chances of scoring.
In the Oregon side of the fifth, Janelle Lindvall got aboard after being hit by a pitch. Costa walked and Lauren Lindvall doubled her sister and Costa in for a 5-0 Oregon lead.
Both Lauren Lindvall and Decker were 2-for-4 on the day.
In the Oregon side of the sixth, Takeda blasted a solo shot to dead center. The homer was UO’s 80th of the season, tying Oregon’s single season record.
“Extremely tough team,” White said of NDSU. “I think they’re under rated, hugely. They’re a very classy team.”
NDSU got on the board in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by Grable. White then brought in Cheridan Hawkins who struck out two consecutive batters. Janelle Lindvall threw out a NDSU runner trying to steal second to seal the win.
Hawkins was named MVP of the Eugene Regional after the game. She allowed four hits and struck out 25 batters in 14 innings for the Ducks. Five other UO players were also selected to the all-regional team: Hailey Decker, Nikki Udria, Janie Takeda, Koral Costa and Jenna Lilley.
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne
