The 19th-ranked Oregon softball team put together a strong showing at the Cathedral City Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., over the weekend.
The Ducks (8-2) won all five of their games after going 3-2 at the season-opening Kajikawa Classic two weeks earlier. Oregon topped No. 22 Nebraska 4-3 to open the tournament on Friday, and went on to win a pair of games each of the next two days. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=245&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205386099@@
On Saturday, the Ducks cruised to an 8-0 win over No. 21 Oklahoma State in six innings. It was the first shutout of the season and 12th of her career for returning all Pac-12 pitcher Jessica Moore, who scattered six hits and struck out two in the winning effort. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=245&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205386615@@
Oregon matched its highest scoring output of the season later that afternoon when the team defeated Northwestern 10-6 to close out the day. A seven-run third inning gave Moore plenty of breathing room in the circle, though she surrendered a grand slam in the fourth inning. Eight different Ducks recorded hits in the victory, including a three-run home run by sophomore first baseman Kailee Cuico in the seventh inning. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=245&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205386650@@
It was more of the same on Sunday when Oregon rounded out the tournament with a 7-1 win over New Mexico and 11-1 victory over Cal Poly in six innings. In the latter game, freshman Karissa Hovinga (2-0) won her second collegiate start this season by striking out three, walking one and allowing five hits on the day. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=245&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205387413@@ @@http://calpoly.prestosports.com/sports/sball/2011-12/copy_of_schedule@@
For the tournament, sophomore Courtney Ceo and freshman Janie Takeda paced the Ducks with seven hits each. Kaylan Howard had an impressive weekend as well, going 6-for-15 with nine RBI, five runs, two home runs, and also walked three times.
Moore improved to 6-2 on the year with five complete games.
The Ducks will be back in action later this week when they travel to Orlando, Fla., for the ESPN Rise Tournament. Oregon is set to face Illinois State, Baylor, Purdue, Pittsburg, Virginia and North Carolina. @@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=245&SPSID=4374@@