It took eight innings, two ejections and a series of missed scoring opportunities, but the No. 11 seeded Oregon softball team managed to keep its season alive on Saturday with a 5-4 victory over No. 6 Texas.
With the series-deciding third game beginning just a half hour after game two’s final pitch, the Ducks (43-16) had no time to celebrate, but the momentum had clearly swung in their favor. Starting pitcher Jessica Moore threw all eight innings to pick up the much-deserved victory, and even the ejections of first baseman Kailee Cuico and pitching coach Lisa Dodd couldn’t deter Oregon from the come-from-behind win.
Coming off of a disappointing 4-2 loss on Friday, things got off to a promising start Saturday afternoon as the Ducks took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on the strength of a Kelsey Chambers home run and an RBI single from catcher Alexa Peterson. Texas (47-12) would quickly respond with a run of its own in the second, and a three-run outburst in the third gave the Longhorns a 4-3 lead.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Peterson came through with another clutch single to score Chambers from third and tie the game. It was during the ensuing at-bat that Cuico attempted to score from third on a bunt, but was tagged out on the slide. In the aftermath of the play, Cuico appeared to get tangled up with Texas catcher Mandy Ogle and tossed her elbow into Ogle’s facemask. The home plate umpire immediately threw Cuico out of the game, leaving Oregon down one of its best hitters.
Despite numerous chances with runners in scoring position over the final two innings, neither team could push across the winning run. The game went to extra innings, and after Texas went down in order at the top of the frame, Oregon finally broke through.
Center fielder Janie Takeda got things started with a single, then promptly stole second to put herself into scoring position. After right fielder Samantha Pappas popped out on a bunt attempt, Takeda stole third — and all of a sudden Oregon needed just a long fly ball to bring the winning run home. Second baseman Kaylan Howard did just that, lofting a fly ball to left field and bringing a tagging Takeda home to secure the victory.
There was a small celebration in the immediate aftermath, but the Ducks quickly returned to the dugout. In thirty minutes, their work would begin all over again — with the season decidedly hanging in the balance.