Elise Sokolsky dealt. A four-run third inning was all the Ducks would need.
Sokolsky was dominant Sunday afternoon, throwing a complete game and allowing just one run in No. 24 Oregon’s (16-10, 5-2 Pac-12) 5-1 victory over Utah (14-12, 1-5 Pac-12).
With both teams scoring a combined 40 runs in the series’ previous two games, Sunday’s matchup was a significant drift from the norm. Both teams went a combined 2-14 with runners in scoring position. One of those two knocks was Ariel Carlson’s three-run homer, which proved to be the difference.
In what was a clear sign of things to come, both squads began the game a combined 2-13 at the dish, as Sokolsky and Sarah Ladd were in control early for their respective squads.
Utah’s eight hitter, Karlie Davidson, got the scoring started on the day by blasting her seventh homer of the year. The solo shot would be all the Utes could muster.
The second time through the order wasn’t as forgiving for Ladd. Carlson tripled before Kai Luschar reached via an error, bringing up Carlson, who cleared the fence with her eighth bomb of the year.
Ladd got the start for the Utes, just two days after allowing seven runs over just 1.1 innings. She didn’t get the bounceback outing she was looking for and saw her ERA rise from 3.30 to 3.40 after allowing three runs — two earned — across her 2.1 innings.
Raci Miranda came in for Ladd and promptly allowed another run due to some strategic Oregon baserunning. Emma Kauf got into a rundown and was tagged out, allowing Val Wong to score making the Ducks’ advantage 4-1.
Making her first appearance of the series after a strong showing last weekend against California, Sokolsky was brilliant, changing speeds well and keeping Utah off balance, throwing seven innings and allowing just three hits.
Sokolsky recorded three of her four strikeouts on the day in the fourth. She was only getting stronger while the Utes’ offense continued to falter.
Oregon’s offense was kept at bay by yesterday’s starter, Mariah Lopez, who fired a pair of scoreless innings keeping the score close.
Sokolsky’s command began to waver in the fifth as she allowed a pair of two-out walks but was able to induce a weak pop-out as she tight-roped out of danger.
KK Humphreys added some insurance in the form of a solo homer to left-center, her fourth of the year, making it 5-1 Ducks.
Utah’s offense would be a non-factor the rest of the way. Sokolsky finished the game as well as she started it. The Utes’ went down in order in the sixth and seventh innings.
Struggling mightily on the defensive side, Utah had four errors on the day and had nine over the three-game series.
Sokolsky has been one of the biggest surprises of the early Pac-12 slate. The red-shirt junior sat out last year due to injury but has been dominant early. Her already superb 1.37 ERA dropped to 1.25
Oregon has now won both series of conference play The Ducks head back to Eugene taking on Arizona State in a three-game series starting Friday, March 22.
