Led by another standout performance from sophomore pitcher Jessica Moore, the No. 11 Oregon softball team cruised to a NCAA Regional victory in three straight games this weekend in University Park, Pa.
The Ducks (42-14) defeated Albany, 3-1, in the opening game Friday night, before shutting out Fordham 2-0 on Saturday, and capping the weekend with a 3-1 victory over host Penn State in the final game Sunday morning. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4374&SPID=245&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205153349@@
The weekend marked the second straight year the Ducks have gone undefeated in regional play, and will again advance to the 16-team Super Regionals next weekend with a best-of-three matchup with Gainesville Regional champion and fourth-ranked Florida, who defeated defending national champion UCLA on Sunday. @@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=4374&SPID=245&DB_OEM_ID=500&Q_SEASON=2009@@ @@http://www.ncaa.com/brackets/softball/d1/2011@@
“I was proud of how our team played (Sunday),” Oregon head coach Mike White said. “Penn State won an emotional game (Saturday) night, so we knew they we would have to play aggressively. We were diving all over the place, and trying to pick each other up. Jess pitched her heart out, and our offense stayed patient and knew that the hits would fall eventually.”

Sunday
Despite trailing 1-0 going into the top of the sixth inning, Oregon rallied for three late runs to escape with a 3-1 win over host Penn State in the deciding game.
Sophomore second baseman Kaylan Howard scored on an error to open the scoring in the sixth, followed by freshman catcher Alexa Peterson sparking the Ducks’ offense with a two-run RBI double to right center, scoring pinch runner Lauren Kotz and senior Monique Fuiava. Peterson was the only Duck to record multiple hits for Oregon, and finished the game 3 for 3 with two RBI.
Senior lefty Brittany Rumfelt came in to close out the bottom of the sixth for Moore (24-9), but a shaky outing quickly forced White to put Moore back in the circle. The Sutter, Calif., native got a pair of ground ball outs to end the inning unscathed.
In her seven innings of work, Moore struck out five, walked two and scattered four hits in facing just 27 batters. The Lions’ lone run was earned.
Saturday
Oregon won in similar fashion on Saturday, waiting until the fifth inning to push across a pair of runs that proved to be the winning margin over Atlantic 10 Conference champion Fordham. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4374&SPID=245&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205153696@@
In a scoreless game in the top of the fifth, Peterson again got things rolling for the Ducks when she snuck a one-out single through the right side. Two batters later, freshman designated hitter Kailee Cuico launched a two-run home run down the left field line to put Oregon on top 2-0.
Sophomore Allie Burger added to the offensive output with a single of her own in the following at-bat, but was called out at first base after leaving early on a stolen base attempt to end the Ducks’ surge.
Defensively, Oregon overcame a pair of late throwing errors by junior shortstop Kelsey Chambers, and Moore continued to dominate in the circle. In arguably her most dominant performance of the year, Moore struck out 11 batters and allowed just one hit in the complete game effort, while facing just three batters over the minimum.
Friday
In the opening round, Oregon wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Trailing 1-0 going into the bottom of the second, a pair of RBI singles from Christie Nieto and Burger drove home two runs to give the Ducks the lead, and they never looked back. @@http://www.goducks.com/downloads2/416615.htm?ATCLID=205153349&SPSID=4374&SPID=245&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500@@
Oregon senior Kaitlin Vitek added another insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when she led off the frame with a triple down the left field line. Peterson scored Vitek’s pinch runner, Kotz, with an RBI single to center field to give the Ducks the final 3-1 advantage. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4374&SPID=245&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205153349@@
Moore picked up her first victory of the weekend by striking out nine, walking one and giving up five hits in her first complete game of the tournament, while Albany’s one run was earned.
“Pitching three starts at last year’s regional gave me confidence that I could do it again this weekend,” Moore said. “Pitching on enemy soil also helps get me up and makes me concentrate that much more.”
All-Region honors
Late last week, Oregon had four players named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Pacific All-Region squads.
Moore and Fuiava were both first team all-region selections, while freshmen Courtney Ceo and Peterson each garnered second team accolades. With four honorees, Oregon narrowly missed its all-time high of five selections, set in the 1989 season. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4377&SPID=245&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205152834@@