Oregon softball coach Kathy Arendsen’s message for her team and starting pitcher Sunday was simple.
“It happens,” Arendsen said. “That’s part of a season. We’re 36-4 and I’m incredibly proud of them. There’s no reason to panic or try to change things. It happens. That’s what this conference is all about.”
That message came after No. 13 Oregon suffered its most devastating loss of the season to No. 11 Stanford, 15-4, in front of a crowd of 477 at Howe Field in Eugene on Sunday afternoon.
Oregon pitcher Melissa Rice had her most difficult outing of the season. The sophomore, who entered the game with a 19-2 record and had given up just 14 earned runs on the season, was roughed up against the Cardinal, giving up 16 hits, including five home runs – two of which were grand slams – and 15 earned runs in 5.2 innings.
Rice was pitching in her sixth straight game after junior ace Alicia Cook came down with an illness and was unable to play. Rice had helped Oregon to a 15-game winning streak including a 4-3 victory against California on Friday and an 8-0 victory against Stanford on Saturday.
Rice and the Ducks hope to begin another streak next Friday and Saturday against Oregon State while eliminating this memory.
“Days like this happen and it’s unfortunate that Cook isn’t well,” said Rice, who called the performance her worst ever. “All in all, it was a rough day.”
Arendsen consoled a visibly distraught Rice after the game and offered her a little advice: Don’t take this one personally.
“Today, her ground balls didn’t find gloves,” Arendsen said. “They went in between fielders… It happens. I’m sorry for her, but I haven’t lost an ounce of confidence, nor have her teammates.
“The strength of her record speaks for itself. She had a tough day. We had a tough day. Nothing more than that.”
Rice started on the wrong foot Sunday after holding the Cardinal to just four total hits one day earlier. She gave up three straight singles to start the game and then surrendered a grand slam to Stanford’s Michelle Smith. That 4-0 score held until the fifth when a walk and two singles again loaded the bases and Cardinal pitcher Missy Penna cleared them with another grand slam to give Stanford a 8-0 lead. Catcher Rosey Neill followed with a solo home run.
Needing at least two runs to avoid the eight-run rule in the bottom of the fifth, Oregon got that when shortstop Jennifer Salling recorded her team-leading 54th RBI of the season on a single that scored Suzie Barnes, who doubled earlier in the inning. Ann Marie Topps then drove Salling and Sari-Jane Jenkins home with her 16th home run of the season, which tied the Oregon single-season record and cut the score to 9-4.
“I was just looking to hit the ball hard,” Topps, a senior, said. “I haven’t been hitting as hard as I’ve wanted to lately. It was nice to come up in a clutch moment.”
Topps is now eighth in the program with 21 career home runs.
“I’m so proud of her. No one deserves success more than her,” Arendsen said. “She has persevered for four years. Every good thing that happens for her just makes me smile.”
Another big inning by the Cardinal in the top of the sixth led to six more runs on six hits, including two home runs, and the game effectively ended in the bottom of the sixth with Oregon unable to muster a last threat.
Not all of Sunday was negative for the Ducks. In addition to Topps’ record-tying day, Cook, Oregon’s ace, was in attendance after suffering an illness that kept her away from the team for multiple games. She should be at full strength against the Beavers and will likely pitch, Arendsen said.
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