Emma Cox was living every little kid’s dream: A tie game, in extra innings, with the bases loaded, a full count and one out. It was hero time.

Oregon scratched and clawed its way back from a four-run deficit against Iowa to complete another shocking comeback on Saturday. It was down 13-9 to enter the seventh. Then Elon Butler’s cycle-completing double started it. The Ducks dug deep and climbed their way out of the hole to tie it.

When Cox lifted a fly ball into right field in the eighth, the crowd held their breath.

Butler tagged and dashed to the plate, and the throw was not nearly in time. Jane Sanders Stadium exploded into pandemonium. 

“This is what I’ve dreamed of, so let’s go do it,” Cox said. “My one thought was ‘Do damage.’”

No. 18 Oregon softball (28-9, Big Ten 9-2) shocked the Iowa Hawkeyes (21-15, Big Ten 5-9) with its 14-13 walk-off victory in game two Saturday afternoon. Oregon pitching was abysmal. Everyone in the circle got hit and got hit hard. But the offense, which had been the only constant all day, finally saw its opportunity to finish the job and it did so in dramatic fashion. 

The incredible feat of hitting for the first cycle in Oregon softball history was somehow not the most impressive moment of the game. Butler had another amazing day at home: she went 6-6 with 4 RBIs and scored 4 runs herself

Milhorn (4.2 IP, 8 H, 10 ER) got the nod for the second game in the series, her first start since the Penn State series to begin Big Ten play. Her day in the circle did not go well. The control was off, pitches in the zone were getting rocked and as the score climbed, her confidence looked to dip.

The freshman gave up four home runs on the day: one in the second to Leah McAnally, one in the fourth to Devin Simon and back-to-back shots in the fifth to Avery Jackson and Simon.

The Oregon offense, though, was strong at the start of the game. It again jumped on Iowa quickly in the first inning. Butler led off for the second game in a row and singled, followed by a Kaylynn Jones walk. Amari Harper set up Cox’s two-run single with a sacrifice bunt and the Ducks were off to another early lead.

“I think (Butler in the lead off spot) looks pretty good to me, so I think we’ll probably keep it,” head coach Melyssa Lombardi said.

More runs came in the second A wicked hop in right field plated Stefini Ma’ake and Elyse Kresho in the second. Ma’ake and Kresho reached via a single and a double. Butler’s bloop single turned into a triple after it jutted to the left of right fielder Bennett on the hop.

But the pitching was giving those runs right back. Milhorn had an awful start to the third and eventually gave way to Rowan Thompson.

“They knew it was going to be a game where our offense was going to have to take on a lot of strain,” Lombardi said. “And they were ready to do it before the game even started.”

Thompson (0.1 IP, 1 ER) made her first appearance in over a month in the third inning. The Hawkeye bats were contagious, though, and they tagged the sophomore for two knocks and plated six overall runs in the inning. Milhorn returned and got a groundball to get out of it.

“I think they (Iowa) like to lift the ball,” Lombardi said about the decision to turn to Thompson for the first time in over a month. “With her, she throws a dropball, and so we wanted her to come in and give us as many ground balls as she could.”

The Ducks were in a bit of a pitching jam. Lyndsey Grein had thrown six full innings the day before, Milhorn was getting hit hard and Thompson had been used and it did not go well. With Elise Sokolsky seemingly still out due to leg discomfort from Indiana, it left Lombardi with three choices: leave Milhorn in and hope for a comeback, turn to Grein again, or give the ball to Taylour Spencer.

The hope for a comeback option was chosen as Grein (3.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 K) eventually did get the ball; however, it was later than expected when she was handed it in the sixth. The senior was bitten by the homerun bug with a two-run blast from Mariah Myers. Down 13-9, the Ducks had a challenge on their hands.

“I looked at what everybody threw out the lineup did and the contributions they had,” Lombardi said. “Just the gritty performance that this group gave and knew that they were going to find a way to win.”

With their backs firmly against the wall, the Ducks didn’t quit. Oregon rallied when it mattered most and tied the game in the seventh. Butler scored, Jones scored, Harper scored and Cox scored. Those three base hits and a walk gave The Jane life.

“It’s an honor,” Butler said. “I’m honored.”

Butler logged her sixth hit with one out in the top of the eight. She still had 180 feet to go before the game was over though. Jones kept the rally going, and singled up the middle to put the winning run in Butler at second. 

A wild-pitch advanced Butler within 60 feet and the Jane was itching to explode. Iowa intentionally walked Harper to load the bases, but it set up the double play — the Ducks were so close but couldn’t phone it in yet.

“This group was not stressed,” Lombardi said. 

Cox worked her at-bat into a full count. And finally, she called game. No way was this opportunity slipping through her fingers. Cox didn’t look stressed as she lifted the game winning fly ball into right. Butler tagged up and took off for the plate. The throw was online but just late. Butler popped up from her slide yelling as the ballpark exploded. It was done, comeback complete.

The Ducks will be back for the final game of the series/rubber match on Sunday for a 12:00pm start. The game will be broadcast via Big Ten Plus (video) and KWVA (radio).