The No. 3 seeded Oregon Ducks (28-19, 13-11 Pac-12) fell to the No. 6 seeded Utah Utes (34-19, 11-13 Pac-12) 7-4 to end Oregon’s run before it began in the Pac-12 Tournament. The Ducks’ defense allowed four runs from the Utes in the top of the seventh inning and failed to respond in the final inning.

Oregon struck first in the game with a two-run opening inning. Ariel Carlson doubled, then was brought home by a double from Emma Kauf. Vallery Wong got the third hit of the inning for the Ducks with a single that brought Kauf home to give Oregon a 2-0 lead after the first.

Elise Sokolsky allowed just one hit in the first two innings after starting the game in the circle for the Ducks. However, the Utes were able to break through in the third inning on a single from Abby Dayton. Dayton then got all the way home after Kaylah Nelson doubled to right field to put them on the board.

The Oregon offense fell quiet after managing three hits in the first inning. The next three innings saw just two hits from the Ducks, but no runs added to their lead. That allowed Utah to take advantage in the top of the fifth inning. Karlie Davidson opened the inning with a single, then the bases were loaded on a fielder’s choice and an error with no outs in the inning. Another fielder’s choice saw Davidson thrown out at home, but the bases stayed loaded.

Nelson singled to advance all runners, allowing Aliya Belarde to score to even the game. Sophie Jacquez singled right after to score another run, this time Haley Denning. Morgan Scott took over in the circle and was able to end the inning down 3-2.

Carlson doubled again to lead off the bottom of the fifth, then reached third base on a passed ball. Carlson scored her second run of the game on a throwing error when she went home off of a ball put into play by Alyssa Daniell to knot the score at 3-3.

Kai Luschar took back the lead for Oregon in the bottom of the sixth. After the first two Ducks at the plate got out, Luschar walked to put the first runner on base in the inning. She stole second, then was able to get home after a fielding error on a ball from Kauf to make the score 4-3 before the final inning of the game and put Oregon just three outs away from advancing.

However, disaster struck for the Ducks in the seventh inning. Denning and Dayton singled to start the inning, then advanced to third and second respectively on a sac-bunt. A passed ball from Oregon allowed Denning to score to tie up the game. Scott then walked a batter to put two runners on base before Shonti Passi hit a three-run homer to left-center to put Utah in front for good.

The Utes’ Mariah Lopez struck out three batters without allowing a hit to squash any hope of a comeback for the Ducks, ending the game in a 7-4 loss.

Scott recorded the loss in the game after allowing five hits and four runs in just 2.0 innings in the circle. Lopez pitched a complete game for Utah and allowed six hits and four runs in the win.

Oregon will await a decision from the NCAA selection show to see if it earned its place in the NCAA Tournament. Selection Sunday takes place on Sunday, May 12 at 4 p.m.