Skipper skips onto

record board
Oregon freshman Tommy Skipper broke the school pole-vault record Saturday when he cleared 18 feet, 8 1/4 inches indoors at the United Heritage Invitational at Jackson’s Track in Nampa, Idaho.
Skipper broke the previous record of 18-6 1/2, set outdoors in 1985 by eventual Olympian and NCAA runner-up Kory Tarpenning. It was Skipper’s second attempt at the height, beating his personal best of 18-3 that came outdoors in June at the Golden West Invitational.
The Sandy native topped the field by more than 7 inches.
“I was definitely surprised how it went today,” Skipper said. “Idaho is a great place to jump. It’s an awesome indoor facility with a great runway.”
Sophomores Eric Mitchum and Akobundu Ikwuakor and the 4×400 relay team also came away with NCAA provisional marks against strong fields.

— Jon Roetman

Softball splits

opening weekend
The No. 13 Oregon women’s softball team recovered from a season-opening loss to No. 10 Georgia with a victory Friday afternoon.
The Ducks then bounced back from a loss Saturday morning for a win in the final game of the Florida International Tournament.
“It was a good way for us to finish up the tournament,” head coach Kathy Arendsen said. “We came back very strong both offensively and defensively. I’m pleased that we’re going home on a positive note.”
Oregon (2-2) lost its first game, 11-6, against a Georgia team that the Ducks upset a year ago. After the Bulldogs took a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning, Oregon battled back for the lead, 6-5, with a five-run fifth, led by first baseman Beth Boskovich’s first career grand slam. Georgia tied the game in the sixth, then scored five runs in the top of the seventh for the win.
Three hours later, the Ducks took the field against tournament-host Florida International. Oregon used a eight-run sixth inning to end the game with collegiate softball’s eight-run mercy rule. Junior transfer Ani Nyhus picked up her first victory as an Oregon pitcher with a complete game.
Saturday morning, the Ducks had another rocky start with a 3-0 loss to Florida Atlantic. Shortstop Breanne Sabol had two singles and center fielder Suzie Barnes added a single in the sixth for Oregon’s three hits.
In their last game of the tournament, the Ducks got a second mercy-rule victory, this time on a six-inning shutout of Iowa State, 8-0. Nyhus earned her second win and her first career shutout, holding the Cyclones to two hits.
Oregon travels to Arizona State for its next pre-season stop — the Fiesta Bowl Tournament — opening Friday with two of the five games scheduled.

— Mindi Rice