The Ducks entered the San Diego Classic in San Diego, California on Friday as the No. 2 team in the nation, looking towards a matchup with No. 1 Florida.
Once the sun set on Friday, Oregon (15-2) earned its second loss of the season as the Ducks fell to Florida (18-0) 3-0 but got an 8-5 win earlier in the day against St. John’s (4-8).
Game 1: Oregon 8 – St. John’s 5: The Ducks might have been looking ahead to matchup with Florida later in the afternoon because St. John’s jumped all over Oregon early on.
Starting pitcher Karissa Hovinga spotted St. John’s a two-run lead in the top of the of the second inning after giving up a two-run blast.
That homerun seemed to wake up Oregon’s offense as the Ducks scored eight runs over the next three innings to seize control for the win.
Gwen Svekis got the rally started when she hit a two-run homerun in the bottom of the second to tie the score and from there, the flood gates opened.
The Ducks added a single run in the third inning before scoring their final five runs in the fourth inning for the win.
Janie Takeda led the Ducks offense by going 3-for-4 while Danica Mercado and Svekis each added two hits.
Hovinga threw 4.1 innings, surrendering two runs on four hits with three strikeouts before being replaced by Jasmine Smithson-Willett. Smithson-Willett threw the final 2.2 innings and was cruising along until the seventh inning when she gave three runs. Her final stat line was 2.2 innings thrown, allowing three runs on three hits with two strikeouts.
Game 2: Florida 3 – Oregon 0: Errors were the name of the game when the No. 1 and 2 teams in the nation faced on during the afternoon.
Three big errors and one costly base-running mistake led to the demise of the Ducks and ruined a stellar pitching performance by Cheridan Hawkins.
Hawkins threw a complete game (6.0 innings) and gave up three runs with just one being earned while striking out eight.
Her counterpart, Delanie Gourley, was slightly better as she threw 7.0 innings and gave up no runs on two hits with eight strikeouts.
Florida got on the scoreboard in the third inning after Hawkins gave up a leadoff triple. A wild pitch by Hawkins allowed the Gators baserunner to cross home plate for the lead.
The Ducks’ best chance to even the score came in the fifth inning when they had two-on with one out and No. 3 hitter Jenna Lilley at bat. Mercado was picked off at first base before Lilley struck out swinging to end the threat.
Florida added its final two runs in the sixth inning when a couple of Oregon errors allowed runners to score and put the game out of reach for the Ducks.
Oregon returns to action tomorrow when it faces San Diego State at 7 p.m.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka