The Ducks face their most difficult weekend of the season as No. 3 Washington and No. 2 UCLA open No. 20 Oregon’s home conference season.
The Ducks battle the Huskies at 2 p.m. today. UCLA and Oregon play at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
“These are big games,” head coach Kathy Arendsen said. “Both are well-rounded teams and excellent in every area.”
Both teams lost to No. 1 Arizona over the weekend — Washington, 3-0, and UCLA, 3-0 and 5-1.
The Huskies (34-5-1 overall, 3-3 Pacific-10 Conference) rebounded, taking two games from No. 12 Arizona State — 2-1 and 1-0 — after losing their home opener. The wins were low-scoring for normally offense-heavy Washington.
Washington was scheduled to play a doubleheader at Portland State on Thursday, but the games were canceled because of rain.
UCLA and Washington have dominated the Ducks over the past four years. The two schools have a combined record of 24-2 against Oregon from 1999 to 2002.
The Bruins (32-4, 4-2) took a win from Arizona State — a 6-0 shutout on Friday — before losing to the Wildcats.
Three UCLA players are in the running for the Amateur Softball Association’s 2003 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Senior Natasha Watley and junior Keira Goerl were included in the 25 finalists for the 2002 award. Senior Tairia Mims is a finalist for the first time.
The three Bruins are joined by Husky sophomore Kristen Rivera on the finalist list. The award will be announced May 21.
Oregon (20-11, 2-5) hosted a doubleheader against Portland State on Wednesday, sweeping the Vikings, 7-2 and 3-2.
The Ducks’ offense came out in the sun during the first game, as Oregon posted five runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Sophomore Ashley Richards drove in sophomore Erin Goodell with a single for the first run. Two batters later, senior Alyssa Laux hit a sacrifice fly to score freshman Beth Boskovich.
Junior Jenn Poore followed with her third home run of the season — a three-run shot to left field –to score Richards and senior Andrea Vidlund.
In the bottom of the third, Vidlund also hit her third home run of the season, scoring Richards to put the Ducks ahead 7-1.
Portland State answered with one run in the fourth, but the Ducks held the Vikings scoreless for the win.
The second game featured a pitchers duel instead of a strong offensive showing. Oregon earned its first run in the second on a single by sophomore Mari Lyn Petrick. Vidlund scored from second base on the hit.
In the fourth, the Ducks took a 2-0 lead on a lead-off home run
by Vidlund.
The Vikings scored two runs on a bases-loaded, inning-ending single in the top of the fifth. Portland State’s runners on second and third scored, but Viking Tiffany McHenry was thrown out at home when she tried to score from first base.
Vidlund came in to pitch during the seventh inning and held the Vikings scoreless.
Oregon loaded the bases in the eighth inning for Lynsey Haij. The senior hit the ball to the first baseman, who bobbled it long enough for Haij to reach first safely. Senior Amber Hutchison scored from third for the extra-inning win.
After the weekend’s homestand, Oregon travels to Portland State for the second of two rescheduled doubleheaders on Wednesday afternoon. The Ducks then return home to host Oregon State on April 18 and 19.