How a team starts the season can say a lot about its mettle, talent, and ability to persevere. Oregon entered Sunday’s matchup with Army looking to improve from a 3-2 loss to No. 5 Clemson and net a winning record in its opening weekend at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida.
The Ducks did all of that, riding a nine-run, fourth-inning to a 12-1 win over the Black Knights, improving Oregon’s record to 4-2 over the opening slate of games.
The game began with Oregon getting a pair of base runners on via a pair of walks, Ariel Carlson advanced to third on a throwing error but was thrown out on a back-pick by Army’s catcher, ending the Ducks’ first-inning rally.
Looking to build off a strong outing yesterday, Stevie Hansen got the start for the Ducks and stranded a runner on second in her first inning of work.
After Oregon was blanked again, Hansen got into trouble after a Caitlyn Newburn single was followed by an infield hit, but was able to strikeout a pair to get out of the inning.
Then Oregon’s top of the lineup struck as Kai Luschar singled and then stole second. Emma Kauf would walk, bringing Carlson to the plate again who blasted a two-run double to score both. Val Wong would also walk, bringing Kai’s sister, Kedre, to the plate who singled to bring in Carlson and extend the Ducks lead to three.
A lead-off single followed by a Kayla Edwards fielders-choice would put a pair of runners on, but freshman Taylour Spencer would come in for Hansen and limit the damage to just one. It was all the Black Knights, who were 0-6 with runners in scoring position, could muster.
Tehya Bird worked a nine-pitch at-bat ending in a single through the left side, but Paige Sinicki would quickly pop into a double-play to cut Oregon’s inning short.
Spencer would continue her impressive weekend with another shutdown inning.
Three straight doubles for Alyssa Daniell, Carlson and Wong would bring in a pair of runs. Kedre Luschar and Katie Flannery would single and walk which loaded the bases for Tehya Bird who broke the game open with a two RBI double to right-center making the score 7-1.
The Black Knights’ pitching staff had no answers for the Ducks offense as Carlson (3-3, four RBIs) hit her third double of the day to drive in two. The Ducks bench began to get involved as Remmington Hewitt doubled down the right-field line to drive in Carlson. Kedre Luschar’s third hit of the game drove in another, making it 12-1. Oregon had 10 hits in the inning, Army had just three for the game.
Spencer, who recorded her second win of the weekend over 2.2 innings pitched, threw a scoreless fifth inning invoking NCAA’s run rule.
Spencer threw 10 innings over the weekend allowing just one run. Kai Luschar went 11-20 and stole six bases over six games.
The Ducks will return to the West Coast, playing five games next weekend at the Campbell/Cartier Classic in San Diego.
