The sleeping giant has awakened.
The No. 22 Oregon softball team (26-17 overall, 1-6 Pacific-10 Conference) experienced the return of its potent offense as the Ducks picked up both games of a double header against Portland State (16-22). Oregon won the first game convincingly, 7-4, and came from behind to win 7-5 in the second.
“We wanted to get two wins and we just kept battling,” head coach Rick Gamez said. “We got the commitment and effort we needed from everyone on the team today.”
That effort produced four home runs, two by Missy Coe and one each by Triawn Custer and Jill Robinson.
The Ducks got started early in the first game. In the top of the first, Coe belted her sixth round-tripper of the year. Oregon never looked back as it continued to score runs at will, getting on the board again in the top of the second scoring two runs to go up 3-0.
Oregon’s big inning came in the fourth when they scored three runs to open up the contest. Custer got the inning started with a walk. Junior Kelly Planche also received a free pass to put two runners on base with only one out. Robinson followed Planche with a base hit to load the bases for last week’s Pac-10 Player of the Week Christi Shelton, who delivered a sacrifice fly to score Custer from third.
Senior Lindsey Welch then cracked a single to score both Planche and Robinson, running the score to 6-1.
The Vikings responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring three runs to close the gap to 6-4. Two of the three runs coming on a Megumi Hackett triple down the right field line to score Kiauna Anderson and Monica Martell.
The Ducks added an insurance run in the top of the fifth when Custer belted her seventh home run of the year.
Freshman Andrea Vidlund went the distance for the Ducks on the mound, pushing her record to 13-4.
“Andrea kept battling out there,” Gamez said. “It was a good win for her because she didn’t have her best stuff today.”
In the second game of the twin-bill, the Ducks had to play catch-up for most of the contest to pull out the second win.
Robinson won the game as she banged a three-run job, her 11th of the year, to get the win. Coe was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Custer cracked a single to set the table for Robinson.
“Jill went up to the plate calm and responded well to the challenge,” Gamez said. “The win really gives us a spark.”
Portland State put Oregon in the hole early, scoring five runs in the second. The Vikings had five hits in the inning and the Ducks contributed two errors, but Jessica Guerrero stole home to tie the score and spark the offense for Portland State.
Oregon pulled back into the game in the sixth with three runs with Custer sparking the rally with a double. Welch then added her own two-bagger to score Custer while Desiree Royster got her first base hit and run batted-in to cap the scoring for the inning. Coe added her second four-bagger of the day, a solo shot to begin the scoring.
“The kids did a great job in the second game,” Gamez said. “It really gave us an emotional win with the comeback win.”
Senior Danielle Haag (3-0) started the game for Oregon on the rubber and got a no-decision as she was relieved by Connie McMurren (10-12) who picked up the win.