Lovena Chaput is well aware of what to expect when it comes to Oklahoma softball.
The senior shortstop for the Oregon softball team was just a freshman three years ago when she traveled with the Ducks to a regional in Norman, Okla.
“It’s a nice full-circle thing for us to go back there and hopefully win the thing this year,” Chaput said.
The memories remain of the field and the environment but also the pain of coming close to winning a regional and falling short to the Sooners.
As Chaput makes her final postseason appearance, she hopes to exact some revenge in the process.
“Especially since they did knock us out freshman year, we definitely have a little chip on our shoulder to get (them) back, especially on their home turf,” she said.
Oregon is participating in a regional this week beginning today with a 5:30 p.m. meeting with host Oklahoma. Arkansas (36-27 overall) and Tulsa (34-23) play in the first game of the regional at 3 p.m. The winner of the double-elimination regional advances to a best-of-three super regional from May 23-25.
The Ducks left Tuesday morning for a flight from Portland that stopped in Las Vegas and made its way to Oklahoma.
Chaput, Alicia Cook and Kayleen Hudson were regulars back in 2005 during her first trip to Oklahoma. Fellow seniors Joanna Gail and Amie Morris were also part of the team, but had little impact on the regional.
Oregon lost the first game, 7-5, to Louisiana-Lafayette, only to roar back and win consecutive games against Wichita State, 3-2, and Louisiana-Lafayette, 3-1, to reach the championship versus Oklahoma. Oregon needed to beat Oklahoma twice to advance, but fell, 2-1, in the first game.
“As much as they stood out as freshmen (and sophomores), it’s amazing to see them as seniors,” coach Kathy Arendsen said. “They’re more mature.”
Jumping back to the present, Oklahoma (43-12) presents a challenging combination of pitching and power.
Today’s starter D.J. Mathis has pitched 93 consecutive innings without allowing a home run. She sports a 27-5 record with a 1.04 ERA and 228 strikeouts.
In comparison, Oregon ace Cook is 16-12 with a 2.22 ERA and 150 strikeouts.
The Oklahoma lineup features its share of hitters as well. Amber Flores (.384, 13 home runs, 44 RBIs), Susan Ogden (.288, 11 home runs, 41 RBIs), Samantha Ricketts (.350, 12 home runs, 46 RBIs) and Savannah Long (.358, 10 home runs, 32 RBIs) are all capable of punishing a pitching miscue.
“They have power,” Arendsen said. “They have speed. Mathis is outstanding. They’re an aggressive team (and) well-coached.”
In one of the few low points of Oklahoma’s season, the Sooners were upset in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championship by Nebraska (25-28).
Otherwise, Oklahoma, ranked No. 7 in the nation, has had three winning streaks of seven or more games and earned a second place finish in Big 12 Conference play.
Oregon has already beaten the Sooners once before, and hopes to take them down once again. The Ducks squeaked by Oklahoma, 1-0, in the Cathedral City Classic in Palm Springs, Calif. in February. Monique Fuiava hit a fourth-inning home run and Cook pitched a shutout.
If Oregon takes any positives from last season’s disappointing finish, including consecutive losses to South Carolina, it’s that the Gamecocks won the regional as a four seed.
“I believe there’s a great resolve (to) prove we’re not a No. 4 seed,” Arendsen said. “It’s always fun to be in the David role versus Goliath.”
Ducks honored
Center fielder Neena Bryant was named to the All-Pac-10 Second Team. Seniors Chaput, Cook and Joanna Gail, as well as junior Sari-Jane Jenkins, were honorable mentions.
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