There were two green banners next to each other on the left field wall during Oregon’s last game at Howe Field.
The left showed a record of 18 postseason appearances for the softball program, ranging back to 1976. On the right, a consecutive list from 2010 to 2014 of NCAA Super Regional appearances, which were stitched in yellow.
Those banners were gone shortly after the Ducks beat North Carolina State 9-3 on Saturday to advance to the Women’s College World Series for the third time in program history. Preparation to replace Howe with Jane Sanders Stadium in time for next spring’s season had already begun.
Making it this far is a familiar path for Oregon. Winning a national championship is something that the Oregon softball program has yet to experience.
After the game, coach Mike White and catcher Janelle Lindvall acknowledged the reality that getting to the Women’s College World Series is just another accomplishment on the path to a greater goal.
“One more step,” Lindvall said when looking forward to next week’s eight team, double-elimination final tournament.
White noted that the team had expectations this year to return to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series. But in order to get there, they had to take care of business in the super regional.
“Unless you’re there, then you can’t win it all,” White said.
The Oregon offense totaled 10 hits and nine runs against the NC State pitching tandem of Emily Weiman and Courtney Mirabella. For the second consecutive day, the Ducks broke the game open with four runs in the fourth inning. Oregon had five hits in the inning – four of which came with two outs.
White called it a “pass-the-bat” playing style. The more hits accumulated, the more pressure there is on a defense and pitcher.
“You don’t have to be a hero here,” White said. “You don’t have to hit the big home run. It’s just pass the bat and fight on.”
Oregon did find a big home run in the top of the seventh inning when Lindvall hit a three-run home run to centerfield to cap the Ducks’ scoring at nine.
Senior pitcher Karissa Hovinga didn’t know she’d start game two against NC State until White announced the lineup.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” she said, “but I was pumped.”
Hovinga threw five complete innings for Oregon, allowing one run on two hits and striking out five.
Before the start of the bottom of the sixth inning, with Oregon leading 5-2, White approached Hovinga. He told her after the first pitch of the inning, she would be replaced with ace, and usual starter, Cheridan Hawkins.
“I want this to be your moment,” White told her.
Hovinga threw a ball to Wolfpack designated player, Meredith Burroughs. White left the dugout, walked to the mound, took the ball from Hovinga and hugged her. A standing ovation from the 2,061 fans at Howe Field soon followed.
“You really stepped it up today Hov,” Lindvall said to Hovinga, with a smile, across the table during the postgame press conference.
Hawkins struck out every NC State batter she faced – aside from giving up a solo home run to Sara Lippard in the bottom of the seventh – to give Oregon a win in its final game at Howe Field.
Jane Sanders Stadium is expected to be open in time for the start of next season. How this season ends for Oregon will undoubtedly be showcased in some format in the new stadium. Now, Oregon has the chance to take that final step on the path to their ultimate goal – 2015 can have a different meaning, and a different stitching, on the banners next year.
“We know this is just the beginning of the next step,” White said.
Follow Joseph Hoyt on Twitter @JoeJHoyt