Another bad hop just leaped up and hit the Oregon softball team in the face… well, make that three bad hops.
Already in the midst of a three-game losing streak heading into the weekend, the Ducks (23-24 overall, 1-5 Pacific-10 Conference) dropped three more games to two Pac-10 foes.
In Berkeley Sunday, the Ducks put some runs on the board, but committed three errors in a 9-4 loss to No. 5 California.
Senior Triawn Custer’s record-breaking home run — the 34th of her career, the most ever by a Duck — scored junior Missy Coe and cut the Bears’ lead to 3-2 in the fourth inning.
But sophomore Andrea Vidlund got into trouble in the bottom of the fourth, giving up four runs, including a two-run homer by Cal’s Veronica Nelson, her 14th of the season.
“I’m happy with the way we battled,” head coach Rick Gamez said. “I’m sure Triawn would have wanted the win, but that’s a great accomplishment for her.”
Vidlund, who tallied the loss, was relieved by Connie McMurren with just one out in the fourth. At the plate, Vidlund hit a two-run home run in the sixth to provide the eventual final score.
Cal’s Nicole DiSalvio (15-1) picked up the win, allowing five hits in six innings and striking out eight. The Ducks are 0-3 against the Bears this season.
Oregon’s offense was held in check Saturday, as Cal pitcher Jocelyn Forest allowed just two hits — both by Vidlund — and recorded 15 strikeouts in a 1-0 win.
Freshman Anissa Meashintubby (2-2) took the loss.

Despite the lack of offensive production, Gamez said he saw signs of improvement.
“We actually played with a lot of heart today and I’m really pleased with how the kids came out,” Gamez said after Saturday’s game. “The bottom line is Cal’s pitcher threw a great game.”
The Ducks landed in Palo Alto, Calif., Friday to face perhaps the hottest team in the country. After just five innings, the Ducks left Palo Alto carrying the burden of an 8-0 loss.
Stanford’s Dana Sorensen — averaging 12 strikeouts per game, the best in the nation — struck out eight while allowing seven hits to improve to 18-1 on the season. No. 4 Stanford (35-3, 5-1) was led by Sarah Beeson’s 3-for-3 performance, including a home run and four RBI.
In 4-and-a-third innings of work, sophomore Lisa Wangler (4-6) gave up seven runs on seven hits to pick up the loss.
Wangler and Alyssa Laux both were 2-for-3 in the game, but the story of the game was the team’s inability to hit with runners in scoring position. Oregon stranded 10 runners in the contest.
“We’re just not getting clutch hits when we need them,” Gamez said. “It’s not a matter of not having confidence against these teams — we’re hitting the ball — it’s a matter of not hitting the ball at the right time.”
After two weeks on the road, Oregon heads back to Howe Field this weekend to host a pair of doubleheaders. San Jose State comes to town Friday for a 2 p.m. start, while Oregon State heads down for a 12 p.m. start Saturday.