When the Ducks beat Oregon State 2-1 on Friday, regardless of Saturday’s 7-3 loss, the softball team captured the 2002-2003 Civil War Cup for all sports.
“I’m proud we won the Civil War Cup,” head coach Kathy Arendsen said after Saturday’s game. “I didn’t even know there was one — I was informed yesterday that softball clinched it for Oregon, so that’s awesome. We’re glad we could contribute to that.”
Friday’s 2-1 win over the Beavers wasn’t the smoothest of rides. In the top of the third inning, Oregon State (26-22 overall, 2-10 Pacific-10 Conference) hit three singles and scored a run before the Ducks got the Beavers out twice.
In the bottom of the third, Oregon (24-14, 4-8) responded with two runs. After two quick outs, freshman shortstop Breanne Sabol safely made her way to first on an error by Oregon State’s shortstop. On the next pitch, senior designated player Amber Hutchison singled, advancing Sabol to second.
Senior third baseman Lynsey Haij followed with a single to right field. Sabol scored and Hutchison advanced to third on an error by the Beavers’ right fielder. Freshman right fielder Beth Boskovich drove in Hutchison on a single to left field, giving the Ducks a 2-1 lead.
“They really stepped up,” Arendsen said after Friday’s game.
Freshman Amy Harris and senior Andrea
Vidlund combined to keep the Beavers scoreless for the rest of the game — allowing just three hits and two walks.
The win was the first home win in their careers against Oregon State for six seniors on Oregon’s squad.
“Our players really showed great intensity and desire,” Arendsen said after Friday’s win. “It was a well-fought battle — what you would expect from Oregon State. Harris and Vidlund both showed a lot of heart.”
Arendsen showed her intensity as well. When Hutchison hit what appeared to be a fair bunt down the third base line, it was called foul — after the ball was picked up and Hutchison had reached first safely. After a bit of disagreement from Arendsen, home plate umpire Steve Arnold ejected her from the game.
The Beavers picked up that intensity on Saturday, as Harris’ first pitch sailed over the center field fence for a 1-0 lead for Oregon State. In the second, the Beavers’ right fielder hit a solo home run in the second.
Junior catcher Jenn Poore led off the bottom of the second with a first-pitch solo home run, but Oregon didn’t score again until the sixth — when the Beavers were ahead 7-1, after a four-run fifth and one run in the sixth.
The Ducks’ two runs in the sixth came when senior first baseman Alyssa Laux drove in Boskovich with her third home run of the season — a shot to right-center field.
“This was probably the poorest game we’ve played in a while,” Arendsen said after Saturday’s game. “Every part of our game struggled. Usually our pitching is on if our defense is struggling, our defense is picking up if our pitching is struggling. Not one part of our game was real strong.
“My guess is the game yesterday is going to be very much like what these Oregon-Oregon State games will be — these 2-1 and 5-4 games — where you see a lot of emotion and just great competition.”
The Ducks host Nevada in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday. Oregon needs to win one of the two games to guarantee a .500 record for the season and a chance for a bid to postseason play. The first game begins at 2 p.m.
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