In early March, Mike White said if his team is able to make it through league play with seven wins or more, the Ducks will have a definite chance of making the postseason.
It wasn’t easy, but the No. 20 Oregon women’s softball team survived the grueling Pacific-10 Conference schedule and is headed to the Atlanta Regional to take on the Auburn Tigers this afternoon.
The Ducks’ eight Pac-10 wins were the most since the team won 10 games in 2003 and 2004, beating five different Pac-10 foes — No. 1 Washington, No. 3 Arizona, No. 9 Arizona State, No. 13 California (three times), and Oregon State (twice) — along the way. Oregon didn’t win a series after sweeping Cal at home in mid-April. However, getting away from the West Coast to see some new competition could be the opportunity White’s squad has been looking for.
“I think that’s a good matchup,” sophomore pitcher Samantha Skillingstad said. “I think that’s a good way to start it off.”
Oregon (33-19, 8-13 Pac-10) has only faced Auburn once in program history, defeating the Tigers 6-2 back in 1999. But for the Ducks, who will be making their fifth regional appearance in seven years, understanding postseason play will have to come with a quick learning curve with four freshmen in the starting lineup.
Left fielder Allie Burger and second baseman Kaylan Howard each started 51 games for the Ducks during their rookie campaigns, while right fielder Samantha Pappas was one of only two Oregon players to start all 52 games this season. Sophomore shortstop Kelsey Chambers also tallied 52 starts.
“I don’t think our freshmen understand the excitement yet,” junior first baseman Monique Fuiava said. “They just see our name on TV and they’re like, ‘OK, cool.’ No, it’s a lot more than that.”
Fuiava, who led the Ducks with 11 doubles this season, was a part of the 2007 squad that qualified for the Oklahoma Regional. But, she said, there is something different about this year’s team that has her more keyed up than ever.
“I mean, it’s my third year here and it’s my second time to postseason,” Fuiava said. “I think I’m a lot more excited than I’ve ever been.”
Auburn will be making its third straight NCAA tournament appearance — fourth in the past five seasons — and the second straight trip to the Atlanta Regional. The Tigers went two-and-out last year, falling to host Georgia Tech 4-1, followed by a 5-0 loss to Boston.
Junior third baseman Kyndall White has led the Tigers offensively this season, despite playing in just 40 of the team’s 54 total games. She hit a team-high .328 with 13 home runs, 30 RBI and 22 runs. Following closely behind her, sophomore designated player Amber Harrison hit .297 with 46 hits, 11 doubles and 29 RBI.
In the circle, senior Anna Thompson (17-9) has been on a torrid pace in 2010, striking out 272 batters in 160 1/3 innings pitched. Thompson posted a 1.53 ERA this year to go along with her 10 complete games and six shutouts.
“I think you have to go into every game with respect of the other opponent,” Skillingstad continued. “You know, we’re looking to play some of those other conferences, and I think it will be a great opportunity.”
Pitching-wise, Skillingstad (11-6) and freshman Jessica Moore (14-11) will have to adapt to the constant heat and humidity of playing in the muggy Atlanta weather. The warm and densely wet air can wreak havoc on a pitcher’s placement if unprepared, making it one of the first points White addressed following the selection show Sunday.
“Most of our spring has definitely been cool, and, you know, not much humidity in the evenings, and we’re going to see the exact opposite of that,” White said. “It’s going to be warm during the days and warm in the evenings with high humidity, so we’ve got to be ready for that.”
Ultimately, the Ducks have yet to play their best softball of the season, and with the bright lights, ESPN cameras and stadiums filled with several thousands of fans, the fate of the season now rests squarely on the their shoulders. That necessary pressure is something White hopes his team will grow fond of in the years to come.
“Well, hopefully they’ll get used to it so we’ll be able to keep doing it for the next three years after this,” White said with a laugh. “But it’s got to be very exciting for them.
“It’s going to be their first time out there and it’s going to be great for our seniors, you know, they get to finish out going for the championship.”
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