The Oregon softball team is trying to find itself.
Making its home opener Wednesday, the Ducks lacked consistency on offense and lost 4-0 to visiting Portland State at Howe Field.
Oregon slips to 13-10 and leaves today for the UNLV Invitational in Las Vegas. The tournament features games against Southern Utah, Ohio State, UNLV and New Mexico State.
The biggest question on a team with five seniors is whether there is a sense of urgency with the beginning of Pacific-10 Conference play fast approaching.
“I think we do, but at the same time we don’t play the best when we feel pressed and urgent,” third baseman Joanna Gail said. “We play the best when we’re having fun and we’re relaxed. We just need to find our own rhythm and I thought we had it last weekend.
“We’ve been developing it for a while, so I thought this would be a great chance to showcase it and it didn’t work out for us.”
Portland State pitcher Mandy Hill (6-7) took the mound and calmly delivered a seven-hit performance. She also produced behind the plate with two hits and two RBIs.
Gail emerged from Oregon’s lengthy postgame team meeting and described a lack of energy.
“I love playing at Howe Field and I felt good before the game, but I guess as a team we didn’t bring it today,” said Gail, who had her nine-game hitting streak snapped. “It’s really disappointing and frustrating.”
Portland State loaded the bases in the third inning with two outs on a single by Arielle Wiser. Cook hit the next two batters with pitches to force in consecutive runs and give the Vikings a 2-0 lead.
“I kind of thought that maybe those kids were kind of coming into the zone a little bit to get hit, but those are smart offensive players so give them some credit,” Oregon coach Kathy Arendsen said.
“It’s definitely not like me,” said Cook, who pitched seven innings, allowing seven hits and striking out four. “They are questionable calls in my opinion but … “
Cortney Kivett extended her hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the third inning. She stole second base but was later caught off the bag and tagged out.
Oregon placed two runners on base with one out in the fourth, only to have Hannah Barril, who was pinch-running for Lovena Chaput, get caught trying to steal third. Gail’s ensuing groundout ended the inning.
Portland State added a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings.
Arielle Wiser singled to third base. After Jackie Heide struckout, Hill powered a hit into center field and scored Wiser from first. In the sixth inning, Jana Rae Slayton hit a first-pitch home run to make it a 4-0 Portland State lead.
Oregon’s Kivett was 2-for-4 and designated player Monique Fuiava went 2-for-3.
“Portland State came out very relaxed and carefree and took care of their opportunities,” Arendsen said. “We didn’t.”
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