The No. 22 Oregon Ducks (24-14, 10-6 Pac-12) managed to even the series with a 5-2 win over the Arizona Wildcats (27-13-1, 8-9 Pac-12). Oregon’s Elise Sokolsky pitched 4.1 innings and allowed just two runs to help the Ducks shut down the Wildcats.
Oregon’s Kai Luschar and Ariel Carlson both singled to start the game, putting two runners on base for the Ducks before Arizona managed to get an out. Carlson stole second, allowing her and Luschar to both score on a double from Emma Kauf. Kauf was able to get to third base on a passed ball, before scoring on a sac-fly from Vallery Wong.
The second inning was more of the same for Oregon. Tehya Bird singled before getting to third base after a wild pitch and sacrifice groundout. Luschar brought her home with a triple into deep left field. Carlson’s second hit of the game was another single, and it was enough to bring Luschar home to make the score 5-0 in favor of the Ducks after the top of the second inning.
Arizona was able to get on the board in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead by a pair of runs. The Wildcats’ Olivia DiNardo hit a single to start the inning, then was quickly brought home on a triple from Emily Schepp. Schepp also made it home on another single. That put the score at 5-2 with Oregon still leading after the second inning.
After the high-scoring start to the game, a pitching battle defined the rest of the game. Wong led off the third inning with a hit, and advanced to second on a sac-bunt. That led Arizona to make a pitching change, putting Aissa Silva in the circle. Silva shut down the Oregon offense almost completely. After getting seven hits early in the game, the Ducks only were able to manage five more hits once Silva entered the game.
On the other end, Sokolsky was electric in the circle in her own right. She did not allow another run before being replaced by Morgan Scott in the fourth inning. Sokolsky ended her game with 4.1 innings pitched while allowing just two runs. Scott kept the momentum firmly on Oregon’s side. She pitched the final 2.2 innings of the game and only allowed three hits while keeping the Wildcats scoreless to secure the 5-2 win for the Ducks.
Arizona managed to record 11 hits in the game, but Oregon forced the Wildcats to leave 11 runners on base. The Ducks managed 12 hits in the game to overwhelm Arizona with offense.
Oregon and the Wildcats will meet one final time to close the series at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 14.
