An undefeated start for the
No. 13 Oregon softball team was brought to a sudden halt by No. 9 Washington, 6-0, in the final game of the Hawaii Paradise Classic on Sunday.
The Ducks (3-1 overall) were limited to three hits by the Huskies’ (3-0) Ashley Boek. She shut down a Duck team that had scored 29 runs in its previous three games and went the distance, striking out six to pick up her second win of the season.
The Huskies got on the board in the third inning when they loaded the bases. Oregon hurler Amy Harris
(1-1) hit center fielder Aimee Minor with a pitch, forcing in a run and giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead.
Harris gave up three more runs
in the fourth inning, three of
which were unearned, due in
large part to three Oregon errors.
The Huskies put up two more in
the sixth inning, ignited by All-American catcher Kristen Rivera’s solo home run off senior pitcher Lindsey Kontra. Rivera was named the
tournament’s most valuable player after going 6 for 9 with seven RBIs,
six runs and two home runs in
three games.
“Obviously we didn’t want to finish the tournament this way,” Oregon head coach Kathy Arendsen said. “We have been playing very well as a team and need to focus on continuing to improve each time we take the field.”
Other than the loss to Washington, Oregon had a very successful weekend at the tournament.
On Saturday, the Ducks, behind
an impressive performance by
freshman pitcher Alicia Cook, beat Jacksonville, 5-0.
The Elmira native allowed a mere two hits in six innings of work to get her second victory of the season.
In nine innings over the course of
the tournament, she allowed only
two batters to reach base, while
not giving up a single. She was
selected to the all-tournament team for her performance.
The Oregon offense was led by junior shortstop Breanne Sabol. The Buena Park, Calif., native went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, two runs scored
and two stolen bases. Sabol finished the tournament 9 for 15 with six runs and five RBIs. She was also an all-tournament selection.
Outfielder Dani Baird also had a solid game offensively, going 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. First baseman Beth Boskovich added a home run for the Ducks, her second of
the season.
Later that day, Oregon defeated host Hawaii, 10-2, behind an offensive explosion led once again by Sabol. She wet 3 for 4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored.
Freshman catcher T.J. Eadus also had a very productive day at the
plate going 3 for 4 with a double and three RBIs.
Oregon next travels to Las Vegas to play in the UNLV Desert Classic
starting Friday against Baylor. The Ducks are slated to play national powerhouse and No. 8-ranked Michigan on Sunday.

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