Baa da baa da badammmmm…
“Charge!”
It’s a familiar trumpet chime at baseball and softball games, but one that rarely makes an appearance at Howe Field.
If for only an inning or two this weekend, though, the charge in the Oregon softball team was loud.
The team — for the first time in weeks — clapped as one, cheering for what was only imaginable: a win over top-ranked UCLA.
After falling flat Friday against No. 12 Washington — which showed no mercy in a 10-1 thwarting — the Ducks held their own against No. 1 UCLA Saturday and Sunday. And despite being swept in the three games, head coach Rick Gamez said the Ducks are putting a charge back in their game.
“Something we talked about after Friday’s game was playing with more heart and pride,” Gamez said after a 6-3 loss to UCLA Sunday. “We wanted to get some confidence back and gain some momentum for the rest of the season … and I think that happened today.”
For a change, the Ducks (25-29 overall, 1-10 Pacific-10 Conference) completed a game without the aid of the eight-run mercy rule. Starting pitcher Andrea Vidlund was roughed up for four runs in the second inning, but the Ducks responded in their half of the third with three runs to cut the Bruins’ lead to one.
Freshman shortstop Kate Peterson opened the third with a walk, and left fielder Amber Hutchison followed with a single to left. At the top of the order, sophomore Lisa Wangler, after fouling off several pitches, could not catch up with the high heat from UCLA pitcher Keira Goerl, bringing up third baseman Lynsey Haij, who singled to left to score Peterson.

Alyssa Laux, a sophomore second baseman, followed with a single to center, scoring Hutchison. Vidlund then stepped to the plate and ripped a single to left, loading the bases for junior catcher Missy Coe, who blooped a single in front of the right fielder to score Haij.
With the bases still loaded and the crowd energized, Triawn Custer — the team’s all-time home run leader — came to bat with a chance to blow the game open. But a grounder back to the mound started a 1-2-3 double play, ending the rally and effectively deflating the Ducks’ chances of an upset.
“The offense was a whole different mindset today compared to Washington on Friday,” Gamez said. “I’ve been telling them that they are capable of putting up runs against anyone in the country.”
Vidlund (9-7) pitched a complete game but took the loss after giving up nine hits and six runs on four Oregon errors.
“It’s easy to get down and lose focus against the top team in the country, but [Vidlund] did a good job of keeping her composure,” Gamez said. “The team gave everything they had today.”
Trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the seventh in Saturday’s game against UCLA, Oregon fought back when all hope appeared to be gone. With one out, Vidlund hit a solo home run — her seventh of the season — over the left field wall. With two outs, right fielder Rachel Tommasini singled and Peterson followed with a homer to bring the Ducks within one. But a Hutchison bouncer back to the mound ended the game at 4-3.
Wangler (5-8) garnered the loss for Oregon Saturday.
Friday was just a day to forget for the Ducks. Even more than the 10-1 drowning at the hands of the Huskies, the Ducks lost one of their two seniors, catcher Kelly Planche, who left the team for personal reasons.