The Oregon Ducks (18-10, 6-2 Pac-12) were able to leverage a massive fourth inning to take a 6-4 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils (17-13, 2-6 Pac-12). Oregon struggled to gain momentum on offense — outside of its five-hit, four-run fourth inning that provided the bulk of the offensive production. However, that inning proved enough to take down Arizona State, despite a late sixth-inning push from ASU.
The Sun Devils struck early for the second straight game of the series, this time on a two-run home run from Jordyn VanHook to open up a 2-0 lead for Arizona State.
However, unlike the start to the previous game between the two teams, the Ducks were able to respond with a run of their own in the bottom of the first. Kai Luschar was walked, then made it to third base after a steal and a single from Ariel Carlson. Alyssa Daniell added to her impressive start to the series with a sac-fly to bring Luschar home. Oregon was unable to bring Carlson home and ended the inning still trailing 2-1.
The Ducks’ Elise Sokolsky locked in following a brief hiccup to start the game. Similar to Morgan Scott in the previous game, Sokolsky began shutting down the Sun Devils with three straight scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. She also struck out five batters during that span to put the momentum firmly in Oregon’s grasp.
That shift was clearly shown in the bottom of the fourth inning. Daniell led off the inning with a double before advancing to third on a fielder’s choice. Regan Legg came in to pinch run for Daniell and immediately scored on a KK Humphreys single..
Katie Flannery doubled to left field to put runners on second and third bases with only one out in the inning. Kedre Luschar brought both home with a perfectly placed triple that rolled past the ASU’s outfielders. Kai Luschar brought her sister home with a single to keep the runs coming before the Sun Devils’ Deborah Jones was able to finally stop the bleeding with a strikeout. However, the damage had already been done, and the Ducks held a 5-2 lead after the fourth inning.
“I wasn’t happy with my outcomes the past couple weekends,” Kedre Luschar said. “But I think just staying strong mentally has really helped that. And now that I’m older, I can just have a strong mindset to get me a hit.”
Sokolsky added two more strikeouts to her total in the fifth inning before Arizona State showed that the Oregon lead was not safe just yet in the top of the sixth. The Sun Devils’ Kelsey Hall hit a double, putting her in scoring position before Marissa Schuld hit a home run right after to bring the score to 5-4.
“I thought Elise pitched a really good game,”Oregon head coach Melyssa Lombardi said. “For her, I feel like it’s continuing to get her innings and to get her reps on the mound, and the more she’ll go the better that she’ll get.”
Arizona State’s second home run of the game ended Sokolsky’s game as she was replaced on the mound by Taylour Spencer. Sokolsky finished with eight strikeouts while allowing six hits and four runs while earning the win. Morgan Scott finished the inning after Spencer faced just four batters as Oregon clung to its lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
“I like our [pitching] staff,” Lombardi said. “I like how deep we are. For them to have to see Taylour and then have to go to Morgan, it’s hard when you’re trying to adjust to one pitcher all game. But then to go from one, to the next, then to one more, I think it’s to our advantage.”
Despite not recording a hit in the sixth, the Ducks were able to add a run to their lead. Braiesey Rosa – who pinch ran after Katie Flannery was hit by a pitch – got to second on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on a fielding error from the Sun Devils. Oregon led 6-4 after six innings, needing just three outs to end the game.
Scott was able to help the Ducks do just that, recording a strikeout and not allowing a hit in the final inning. Scott did not allow a hit in her 1.1 innings on the mound.
Another quiet game on offense from Oregon saw it muster just seven hits. However, the defense proved to be the difference for the second game in a row, allowing the Ducks to win the hitting battle 7-6 in the win. Kai Luschar was the only Oregon player to record multiple hits, ending the day 2-3 with a run and an RBI after not recording a hit in the first game of the series.
“I’ve just been working on resetting after each pitch,” Kai Luschar said. “And also, just taking the pressure off myself. I know all my teammates can get it done if I don’t.”
The Ducks will look to complete the series sweep against Arizona State on Sunday, Mar. 24 at 12 p.m.
