Second baseman Erin Goodell rode a bit of an offensive streak through the weekend.
Friday, Goodell hit what ended up to be the game-winning hit, a home run over the left field wall in the top of the seventh inning. In Sunday’s 10-inning loss to UCLA, Goodell provided Oregon’s only offense, a two-run home run that tied the game in the fifth.
On the weekend, Goodell went 3 for 10, totaling four RBIs, two runs and two home runs.
“I’m feeling really good and I’m seeing the ball really well,” Goodell said. “It makes me confident. I’ve just been going in each game with a positive mentality. I think our whole team gives me that confidence, just knowing we can win each game has helped me individually.”
The weekend added 12 points to Goodell’s season batting average, raising it to .196, or 13 points higher than her average last season.
“(Erin) has been working with (assistant coach) J. Gaudreau on her hitting,” Oregon head coach Kathy Arendsen said. “I like where she’s at. She has confidence when she comes up to bat and you can tell.
“She hit a hit-and-run for a home run (Sunday). I wish I could say I called for a hit-and-run home run. It was a great hit.”
Goodell’s weekend is an example of the balanced offensive attack that Oregon has this year.
“We’re a better all-around team in our offensive lineup than last year,” Arendsen said. “Each kid brings a different element — we have some who are speedy, some who see the ball well, and others who have their own specialties. A lot of kids are putting last year’s experiences to good use.”
As a team, the Ducks have improved their batting average from last season’s .258. Through Sunday, Oregon is batting .284.

Home, home on the road
At both Washington and UCLA, the Ducks had a reasonable cheering section in the stands. Four Oregon players call the state of Washington home, while at least three California natives had family at the UCLA games. Pitcher Ani Nyhus, from White Rock, British Columbia, even got a surprise visit from her mom at Friday’s game.
“She hasn’t seen me pitch in about four years,” Nyhus said. “She took a day from work to come to the game.”
First baseman Kristi Leiter, from Lake Stevens, Wash., scored the first run for the Ducks on Friday with a home run to the bleachers in right field.
“In front of her high school team, her summer team and her friends and family,” Arendsen said. “She hit a home run in her first game at home. That’s just the thrill of a lifetime.”
Leiter, Nyhus, third baseman Ashley Richards, outfielder Dani Baird and outfielder Suzie Barnes all had family at the Husky game. Julie Jaime, Beth Boskovich and Breanne Sabol each had family at the UCLA games.

Pitching her way up
In Friday’s victory, Nyhus threw 11 strikeouts against the Huskies. Add in her six k’s Saturday and one Sunday and the transfer junior is already up to 128 strikeouts this season. That puts Nyhus at No. 10 on Oregon’s all-time career strikeout list. The 128 strikeouts also put her at fifth all-time for a single season with 14 regular season games remaining.