What a difference a few wins and some confidence can make.
A day after the No. 23 Oregon softball team (29-17 overall, 4-6 Pacific-10 Conference) dropped its fifth game in a row, the team got some much-needed momentum by sweeping a double-header against Portland State. Those wins gave the Ducks the confidence to rip off three road wins in the Bay Area.
Oregon swept No. 9 Stanford (34-11, 3-8) and No. 8 California. (39-14, 3-8). The sweep of the Cardinal was the first for the Ducks since 1995.
“These were huge wins for us,” head coach Rick Gamez said. “The kids battled and fought hard.”
The three-game road-trip was capped by a 3-2 win over host Stanford, their second win in as many days.
The Ducks trailed the home team 2-0 until the top of the fifth when they evened the score on two singles and two errors. Freshman Andrea Vidlund sparked the rally with a single and advanced to second when Holly Ray reached base on an error. Senior Andrea Gustafson singled home Vidlund to close the lead to one run. Gustafson then stole second and Ray scored from third to even the score at 2-2.
Ray started the Ducks’ next rally in the top of the seventh with a single. Amber Hutchinson moved her to second with a single and Ray came around to score on a Gustafson single.
Stanford’s only scoring came in the third inning when two runs came across on an RBI single by Sarah Beeson and a sacrifice fly from the bat of Kellie Wignton.
Vidlund pitched 6 2/3 strong inning to push her record to 14-4 before giving way to Connie McMurren for the save.
“We’re extremely happy with [Vidlund’s] performance,” Gamez said. “It’s extremely good for her confidence.”
On Saturday the Ducks also picked up the first contest of the two-day series with a 3-1 win. They got started early in the game, scoring all three of their runs in the top of the second.
Junior Triawn Custer opened the inning with a walk, and Lindsey Welch reached on an error. Jill Robinson drove in Custer with her sixth double of the season. Vidlund knocked in Welch with base hit and Hutchinson reached on another error to score Robinson for the final run of the inning.
Vidlund got the start for the Ducks, but was unable to get out of the third when she loaded the bases with one out. McMurren (12-12) came in and quieted the Cardinal rally with a strikeout and a ground ball to end the inning.
Stanford’s only run came in the fifth when McMurren got into a base-loaded situation with none out. She only allowed the one run when she issued a free pass to Maureen LeCocq before getting a double play and great throw from Welch to nail Beeson at home.
“The defense stepped up for us today and really helped Connie,” Gamez said. “She’s been throwing well and in the zone. We’re pleased about where she is at this point in the season.”
In the opening game of the trip, Oregon’s bats showed some pop in a 3-2 win over Cal. Robinson and Welch both blasted home runs to lead the Ducks’ charge. Robinson got the offense running in the top of the second when she blasted her 12th dinger of the year, giving the Ducks a 1-0 lead.
Oregon lit the scoreboard again in the third. Welch crushed a two-run later to push the score to 3-0. Cal would close the gap in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the lead to 3-2 on a single by Paulina Duenas.
“Jill and Lindsey did a good job of getting us started,” Gamez said. “They gave us the spark at the right time.”
McMurren pitched a complete game to get her first of two wins on the weekend. She also recorded a save in 1/3 innings of relief for Vidlund on Sunday.
The wins improved the Ducks’ conference record to 4-6 and pushed them into sole possession of fifth place heading into the second half of the season.
“We’re in the middle of the hunt now,” Gamez said. “We’re right where we want to be.”