It was a quick turnaround for No. 5 Oregon softball (2-3) on Sunday morning. After a battle against the University of Tennessee that ended in a 2-0 Ducks loss, the Ducks had to play a 10:00 am ET game against the Southeastern Louisiana University Lady Lions.

Elise Sokolsky, who finished out the game against Tennessee, got the nod to start the final game for Oregon in the NFCA Leadoff classic. 

Catcher Emma Cox showed off her cannon in the top of the first. Cox gunned down Chloe Magee at second base for out number two. Cox back-picked Maria Detillier at second base, Detillier being tagged out by Ducks third baseman Katie Flannery. 

The Ducks loaded the bases in the bottom of the first: Amari Harper doubled off the top of the fence, Elon Butler walked and Rylee McCoy reached on an error by Lady Lions second baseman Shelby Morris.

Kaylynn Jones knocked in Harper and Butler with a 3-1 laser up the middle. Oregon was up 2-0 early forcing Louisiana to make a first-inning pitching change.  The Ducks loaded the bases again, but failed to increase their lead.

Cox threw out her second runner on the base paths in the top of the third. During a long battle between Sokolsky and Magee, the Lady Lions, down two, tried a double steal of second and third; Cox threw out Shenita Tucker at third for the third out.

Taylour Spencer replaced Sokolsky, who had thrown 62 pitches, in the top of the fourth. Sokolsky ended her day with three innings pitched, two walks and two strikeouts.

Despite Oregon having a runner on base each inning, the Ducks’ offensive production since the first inning was nonexistent. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Flannery roped a double into left field. She got to third base on a wild pitch, but was not brought around to score. Through four, the Ducks still led the Lady Lions 2-0.

Lyndsey Grein took over for Spencer in the top of the fifth, making her second appearance out of the bullpen over the weekend.. The Lady Lions had their best scoring chance all day: second and third with no outs following a wild pitch. A ground ball back to Grein clanked off her glove and SE Louisiana scored their first run of the day, cutting the lead to 2-1 Oregon. 

Back to the top of the lineup, Morris stepped up and launched a two run triple over the head of Oregon left fielder Harper. SE Louisiana jumped ahead of Oregon 3-2 

Detillier walked, and on ball four Grein overthrew Cox and Morris scored on the wild pitch and gave the Lady Lions a 4-2 lead. Grein exited the game after colliding with Morris at the plate. Maddie Milhourn took over for Grein with two outs in the top of the fifth. Milhourn closed out the frame, but the Lions’ damage was done as they led the Ducks 4-2. 

The Ducks were able to get the tying run into scoring position in the sixth, but that was the last of their chances to tie the game. In the seventh, Oregon went down in order.

Southeastern Louisiana University won 4-2 and pulled off the upset against No. 5 Oregon to end the NFCA Leadoff Classic for the Ducks. 

Oregon will have just under a week off before going to Stanford, California to compete in the Cardinal Classic. The Ducks play Cal State Fullerton on February 13 at 10:00 am.