In its first game of the season, Oregon softball dominated Cal Poly in the Kajikawa Classic 12-3.
The Ducks will be on the road for 29 games before making their way back to Eugene for their home opener at Jane Sanders Stadium. Last season, Oregon ended as the No. 7 ranked team in the NCAA after a loss to No. 6 Alabama in the College World Series.
This season, the goal is to make it back to the tournament. Winning over Cal Poly helped pave the road to that goal.
Oregon took the 1-0 lead early when Gwen Svekis hit a home run. Pitcher Cheridan Hawkins kept up her end on the defense, recording three strikeouts and allowing just one hit by the bottom of the second inning.
In the third, Oregon scored four more runs, earning the 5-0 advantage before the Mustangs scored their first two runs of the game in the third.
By the fifth inning, Alyssa Gillespie had recorded two doubles and an RBI, one of which contributed to Oregon’s 8-3 lead at that point.
Hawkins showed why she is on the USA Player of the Year watch list, recording her 10th strikeout of the game in the bottom of the sixth.
In the seventh, freshman Marisa Givens brought in two runners at her first collegiate at-bat to give Oregon the 10-3 advantage.
Oregon scored its final runs in the seventh inning to win the game 12-3, starting the season off with a win.
The Ducks will play again at 6 p.m. this evening when they take on Georgia State.
Follow @ODEsports for the results after the game.
Follow Madison Layton on Twitter @MadisonLayton01