CORVALLIS – The buzz words surrounding Oregon’s latest softball game mentioned heart, toughness and fun.
A 2-1 Oregon win over your in-state rivals can do a lot to raise any team’s spirits.
It was a stark contrast from the last time the Ducks softball team made the trek to the OSU Softball Complex to play Oregon State two weeks ago. The Ducks lost 3-1 then and held an emotional players-only meeting afterwards.
On Tuesday, Oregon struck first and, after an uncharacteristically short team meeting, left the field smiling.
“I can’t remember the last time we had an early lead,” Oregon coach Kathy Arendsen said. “It seems like we’re always coming from behind.”
The Ducks (30-22, 3-11 Pacific-10 Conference) clinched at least a .500 record with the win and now head home for the final eight games of the regular-season. Oregon hosts Portland State today at 4 p.m. at Howe Field in the Ducks last non-conference game of the season.
Oregon benefited from an Oregon State pitching miscue to go ahead 1-0 in the third inning.
Catcher Ashley Kivett reached base on a walk and, after two consecutive Oregon outs, left fielder Sari-Jane Jenkins doubled down the left field line. A wild pitch brought Kivett home for the Ducks first run.
Oregon added a second run in the fifth inning.
Pinch runner Hannah Barril was tagged out at the plate off a grounder by Sari-Jane Jenkins, but Blair Williamson, who had taken first base on a sacrifice bunt, eventually advanced to third base and slid home safely on a chopper by Cortney Kivett.
Cook (14-10) threw her 14th complete game of the season as the senior righthander survived a rally by Oregon State in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Erin Guzy reached base on an error. Stefanie Ewing cranked a pitch into left field as Guzy moved to third and Ewing made it to second.
With powerful first baseman DeAnn Young up, Cook threw a wild pitch that allowed Guzy to score and Ewing to move to third.
But Oregon’s defense locked in.
“I think our (players) showed a lot of heart in that last inning,” Arendsen said.
Young lined out to third baseman Joanna Gail. Tarah Black did, too. McKenna Lowe came up next and fell victim to a Cook strikeout that ended the game and gave the Ducks their first win in the three-game Civil War series.
“(Cook) wanted to be the one to make the final out,” Jenkins said.
Cook gave up five hits and an unearned run and struck out six.
“We’re battling,” she said. “We’re fighting.”
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