Everything seemingly came together for the Oregon softball team (40-16, 5-13 Pac-10) on Sunday afternoon in front of 543 people at Howe Field in Eugene.
One day after an emotional team banquet, the No. 18 Ducks defeated No. 9 Arizona State 6-5, ending Oregon’s five-game conference losing streak and sending Oregon’s three seniors off with a victory in their home finale.
The emotions of that banquet the night before, which included team awards and an inspirational video, coupled with a pre-game ceremony to send off seniors Suzie Barnes, Kristi Leiter and Ann Marie Topps, seemed to rally the Ducks and rejuvenate their postseason push.
“(The banquet) just rekindles who you are what you’ve done together,” Oregon coach Kathy Arendsen said. “I’m proud that the team gave the seniors a win on their Senior Day.”
Said redshirt freshman Jenn Salling: “Our banquet was amazing. It was a pumper-upper for us. I thought we came out with a bang.”
Oregon, which had lost 13 of 15 conference games after starting 2-0, managed its highest offensive output since a 6-5 win at No. 13 Oregon State on April 25.
The Ducks were averaging 1.2 runs per game during their five-game losing streak but managed five hits Sunday against the Sun Devils, including two doubles by Salling and a grand slam by freshman right fielder Neena Bryant, her second of the season.
“We had talked to the underclassmen about trying to show some leadership because the seniors have to manage their own emotions on senior day,” Arendsen said. “It was great to see those kids step up and not leave it on the seniors to make all the plays.”
The Ducks also received a complete-game effort from junior pitcher Alicia Cook, who returned for just her third game back after missing nine straight games with an illness.
She allowed eight hits and five runs against the Sun Devils and picked up her 19th victory of the season.
“She was gutty,” Arendsen said. “She’s not 100 percent but she just pitched with heart. I’m proud of her.”
She worked out of a jam in the third inning with Oregon clinging to a 1-0 lead. After allowing three straight singles to begin the inning, Cook gave up a sacrifice fly but got the next two batters to pop out to end the inning with her surrendering only one run.
“It was huge,” Cook said. “We didn’t want to get down and have to fight back. So to stay ahead the whole game, that was a big accomplishment.
“I was kind of tired today. I was running out of gas. I had to pick it up with my heart and just give it all I had, especially for the seniors.”
Oregon got on the board first in the first inning when Barnes reached on an infield single, then stole second, and Salling roped an RBI double down the right field line for a 1-0 lead.
Arizona State tied it in the third but Oregon regained the lead when Barnes again reached after being hit by a pitch. Sari-Jane Jenkins recorded an infield single and Salling recorded her second RBI double of the game with a shot off the right-field wall.
Topps walked to load the bases with no outs and Bryant cleared them with a grand slam over the left field fence, which pushed Oregon’s lead to 6-1.
“It was a just a fastball inside,” Bryant said. “It felt really good.”
The Ducks needed every one of those runs as Arizona State made a push in the fifth. After consecutive singles, Kaitlin Cochran recorded her second RBI of the game with a single to right field. Mindy Cowles then hit a three-run home run, her third home run in two games against Oregon, to cut the lead to 6-5.
But Cook regrouped and allowed only one base runner in the final two innings to seal the Oregon victory, a crucial one for Oregon’s postseason hopes, Arendsen said.
“I think it solidifies our place in the postseason and allows us to move forward…with some confidence and momentum,” Arendsen said. “I believe this was a key victory for us to get going.”
Oregon plays Thursday against Stanford and on Friday and Saturday against California to conclude the regular season. Selections for the NCAA Regional Tournaments are conducted on Sunday.
Notes
Oregon lost 6-2 to No. 5 Arizona on Friday and fell 8-0 Saturday to Arizona State…Barnes broke the Oregon single-season steals record with her 37th on Friday…Oregon did all its damage Sunday against Arizona State starting pitcher Megan Elliott, Bryant’s teammate on the Junior Women’s National Team. Elliott was replaced after 2.1 innings by Katie Burkhart, who tossed a shutout against Oregon a day earlier, and did not allow a hit in 3.2 innings on Sunday…The Ducks announced their team awards at the annual banquet Saturday night at Mallard Hall. As voted by the team, Salling took home the MVP and top offensive player awards. Sophomore Melissa Rice was named top pitcher, junior Joanna Gail was named top defensive player, and Barnes was named most inspirational.
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