The Oregon softball team (18-18 overall, 0-9 Pacific-10 Conference) embarks on a road trip of dizzying magnitude as it rivals a roller-coaster grand enough to make even the most steady-stomached rider call for Dramamine.
Today’s game in Seattle against No. 9 Washington marks the beginning of a hectic stretch for the Ducks, where they will compete in 10 games in 10 days.
After the game against the Huskies, the team will travel to No. 2 UCLA for Saturday and Sunday games, immediately followed by a Monday double-header at Portland State. The Ducks will have Tuesday off before hosting a double-header of their own against Portland State on Wednesday.
April 26 begins a weekend in Arizona, where the Ducks will face the No. 1 Wildcats on Friday and No. 6 Arizona State on Saturday and Sunday.
“It’s going to be a grind from a time perspective,” Oregon head coach Brent Rincon said. “The kids are going to have to focus academically and athletically in order to be successful.”

Oregon has had opportunities to win many of its nine Pac-10 games, keeping pace with some of the best teams in the country, but has struggled to piece together excellent pitching, offense and defense in the same game. All of the other seven teams in the Pac-10 are ranked in the top 14.
“We’ve played some tough games against some of the top teams, and we’re playing right with them,” shortstop Lynsey Haij said. “All we can do is remember the positives and keep working hard.”
In order for the Ducks to get out of their losing slide, they need to “play consistently high softball for an extended period of time,” Rincon said.
During Oregon’s two weekend games against UCLA, the Ducks will try to prevent a historical monument. UCLA’s Stacey Nuveman has hit 13 home runs in her senior campaign, giving her a career mark of 83, which places her third on the all-time NCAA list. She needs only two to reach the record held by Arizona’s Leah Braatz and Laura Espinoza.