There are times like last weekend’s sweep of Michigan where No.4 Oregon softball had to grind for wins.
Then, there are games like Friday’s 14-0 win over Minnesota (14-23, 3-10 Big Ten), in which the Ducks blitz an opponent’s starting pitcher, roll on offense, and turn a stress-free win into certainty by the fourth inning.
Winning in softball is hard, but the Ducks (36-4, 10-1 Big Ten) continue to make it look easy against conference opponents.
With the sun finally out, and the brutally cold Midwest temperatures warming up, the Ducks’ trip to Minnesota got off to a blistering start Friday.
They struck for seven and five runs in the fourth and fifth innings, dispatching the overmatched Golden Gophers.
Dez Patmon helped epitomize the win as she blasted a long home run to open the scoring in the third for her 100th career RBI.
Most of the damage came in a fourth inning where the Ducks brought 12 batters to the plate. Rylee McCoy tallied a two-RBI double that helped balloon the lead even more.
Other offensive catalysts were Kedre Luschar (3-3 with an RBI) and Paige Sinicki (2-4).
The scoring binge helped the Ducks win their fifth-straight series opener this season. It also helped get some freshmen in the game as head coach Melyssa Lombardi emptied her bench with the score so lopsided.
Staked to such a big lead, Lyndsey Grein’s job was easy — throw strikes, attack hitters and minimize damage. She did all of those things, throwing four innings of shutout ball before Staci Chambers came in and threw a scoreless fifth to secure the win.
Chambers’ scoreless inning was another positive sign for the lefty, who has slowly seen her workload increase since returning from an early-season injury.
Both pitchers allowed just one hit apiece, and were obviously not bothered by the rare baserunners they allowed. On the other hand, Natalie Susa of Minnesota was tagged for nine earned runs in five innings of work.
Oregon has now won nine straight against Big Ten opponents, effectively dominating the conference in the Ducks’ first year.
Oregon was held scoreless through the first two innings, but had no trouble against Susa its second, third and fourth times through the lineup. The Ducks tallied their 12th run-rule win of the year.
Oregon wasted no time getting back to its winning ways, jumping all over the Gophers and mounting a remarkably easy win.
Between the offensive barrage and the stalwart pitching, it was the perfect recipe for another victory.
First pitch of game two is set for 11 a.m. Saturday.
