Despite missing two seniors for two games each, No. 25 Oregon continued its impressive start, going 3-1 in the Houston Invitational and improving to 12-5 on the season.
Head coach Kathy Arendsen announced Friday that seniors Alyssa Laux and Andrea Vidlund would each miss two games during the weekend tournament for a “violation of team rules.” Vidlund did not play Saturday, while Laux sat out Sunday’s games.
The Ducks began Saturday, playing Texas Tech and using only two hits to win, 1-0.
In the third inning, freshman Breanne Sabol hit a single, scoring later in the inning to give Oregon its 1-0 lead.
Junior Anissa Meashintubby and freshman Amy Harris combined to shut out Texas Tech.
After Texas Tech, the Ducks faced tournament host Houston. The Cougars took an early lead, but Oregon scored four runs with two outs in the third inning on its way to a 6-3 win.
Harris earned her fourth save of the season, holding the Cougars scoreless for 1 1/3 innings. Oregon added two runs in the seventh
inning.
In the Ducks’ first game on Sunday, Oregon gave up another early lead, but scored five runs in the middle innings to beat Kentucky, 5-1.
Oregon loaded the bases in the third inning with one out. All three runners scored during the inning, putting Oregon up 3-1.
Freshman Beth Boskovich increased Oregon’s lead with a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
Harris pitched her third complete game of the season, tying a career high with eight strikeouts.
Oregon closed the tournament with a game against Texas-San Antonio. Oregon scored seven runs but the Roadrunners scored five runs in the sixth to win 8-7.
“I’m disappointed that we aren’t going home undefeated,” Arendsen said. “UTSA just got hot at the right time.”
The Ducks had 12 hits in the game. Harris, the fourth pitcher of the game for Oregon, took the loss and is now 4-3 on the season.
The tournament was shortened from six games to four games for the Ducks because of rain.
Oregon next travels to Utah to begin its fifth tournament of the preseason on Friday.