The Oregon softball team shook off any lingering effects from its loss to Portland State, and swung away in a 10-6 win over Southern Utah on Friday.
The win was the first of four wins in the UNLV Invitational last weekend in Las Vegas. It was Oregon’s last non-conference tournament on the road before entering Pac-10 play.
The Ducks come home now and host the Cascade Classic. Oregon kicks off the tournament Thursday at 1 p.m. in a doubleheader with Northern Illinois.
Pitcher Melissa Rice closed the tournament with a 2-0 shutout of New Mexico State on Sunday. It was the third win of the weekend for Rice, who helped coach Kathy Arendsen earn the 200th win in her Oregon career. Second baseman Cortney Kivett also had a hit that extended her hitting streak to 15 games.
Rice allowed only three hits in six innings pitched. She struck out five and walked one.
“I was better this week at not putting so much pressure on myself and not worrying about making the perfect pitch,” Rice said in a media release. “When I got into tense situations, I responded in a more composed way.”
Oregon opened the tournament Friday morning buoyed by the play of first baseman Carlyn Re, who had a career-best 3-for-3 performance. Re, who has split time with Monique Fuiava at the position, had two RBIs.
Rice pitched 4 2/3 innings and struck out a season-high six before giving way to Alicia Cook, who came on and pitched the last out of the fifth inning and all of the sixth and seventh innings for her third save of the season.
On Friday afternoon, Oregon fell to No. 20 Ohio State, 7-0, in a match-up of NCAA Regional runners-up.
Cook struck out three and walked seven.
Oregon met up with Southern Utah the next day and again beat the Thunderbirds. The Ducks benefited from a pinch-hit home run by Fuiava.
Oregon leapt out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. After a walk by Re, catcher Amie Morris bunted to third and the third baseman’s threw went into right field, allowing Re to score from first.
Kivett went 2-for-4 and Bryant was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.
Rice pitched a complete game as Oregon crushed host UNLV, 7-1, in Oregon’s next game.
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Arendsen wins 200th game as Ducks roll in Las Vegas
Daily Emerald
March 9, 2008
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