For a moment, there was hope.
Down 6-1 with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning against California Saturday and facing elimination from the Women’s College World Series, the Ducks loaded the bases for freshman Sara Goodrum, who promptly doubled into left field to cut the margin to 6-3. A bloop hit from senior Lindsey Chambers nearly fell to drive another run in, but instead it was caught and Goodrum was thrown out trying to score at home. All of a sudden, the inning and Oregon’s most potent threat of the night were over. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205435918@@
The Ducks would not come back, and when Cal (58-6) wrapped the victory up in the seventh inning, it also knocked Oregon (45-18) out of its first Women’s College World Series since 1989. An earlier 3-1 win over Tennessee (52-14) kept the Ducks alive in the double-elimination format after last Thursday’s opening 3-1 loss to Arizona State, but the evening loss to the Golden Bears ultimately sealed their fate. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=245&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205435902@@ @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=245&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205435250@@
“We got off to a slow start, but we didn’t give up — that’s been our forte all year,” Oregon head coach Mike White said to GoDucks.com. “We had a chance to do some real damage in the sixth, but they got a fortunate bounce to help their catcher make a great play to help stop our rally.”
Cal wasted no time getting on the board, as second baseman Jace Williams hit a three-run home run against Oregon starter Jessica Moore (33-15). A two-run double in the second gave the Golden Bears a 5-0 cushion, and it wouldn’t be until the third inning that Oregon registered its first score on a home run from Samantha Pappas.
Having thrown each of the first 18 innings of the World Series, Moore was finally removed from the game in the sixth after giving up six runs (five earned) with five strikeouts and two walks. Freshman Karissa Hovinga was spotless in two innings of relief, but the damage had already been done and Oregon couldn’t stave off the loss.
“Jess put everything she could out there,” White said to GoDucks.com. “Cal came out ready to swing the bats, and took advantage of some mistakes to get out to an early lead. I was real happy the way Karissa Hovinga came in and picked her up at the end. She gave our team a shot to try and come back.”
Though that shot ultimately fell short, it didn’t take away from the success the Ducks had earlier in the day against Tennessee. Moore was stellar — throwing all seven innings and tying a school record with her 73rd career win — and Oregon mustered just enough offense to back up its star pitcher.
“We weathered a lot of ups and downs this season,” Moore said to GoDucks.com. “And some of the adverse conditions from the games at Texas last weekend helped prepare us for the World Series. After we lost the first game Thursday, we came back ready to fight today.”
It was Pappas who got things going with a leadoff home run in the first inning, and recently suspended first baseman Kailee Cuico wasted no time making her impression felt with an RBI single later in the inning. As it was, that turned out to be all Moore needed — though the Ducks did tack on an insurance run in the fourth inning.
Even if there were more losses than wins, and frustration outweighed jubilation throughout the weekend, White still came away satisfied with what his team accomplished in Oklahoma City.
“I’m really hoping that our team has learned a lot of things from this experience,” White said to GoDucks.com. “The city of Oklahoma City was a wonderful host and have always done a fantastic job.
“I know my team loved every minute of the trip, and we can’t wait to get back here.”