For an Oregon softball team trying to regain its winning ways, this week’s road trip offers multiple road blocks.
The trip south to meet up with the Arizona schools brings match-ups with two schools ranked among the top-11 schools in the nation, including No. 1 Arizona State.
Any win for Oregon right now would be beneficial, as the Ducks sit in sole possession of last place in the Pacific-10 Conference.
Following the final road trip of the season outside Oregon, the Ducks (28-20, 1-9 Pac-10) make a visit to Oregon State on Tuesday before ending the regular season with eight consecutive games at Howe Field.
Survive this weekend and Oregon will have more opportunities to move up the Pac-10 standings with California and Washington – both directly ahead of Oregon – set to make trips to Eugene during the Ducks’ final homestand.
First up, though, is a visit to Tucson for a meeting with Arizona on Friday. Arizona, a national softball power, is an uncharacteristic 6-6 in conference play and looking to end a three-game losing streak. Last weekend, Arizona lost consecutive games to in-state rival, Arizona State, in Tempe.
The first loss to Arizona State, a 2-0 decision, featured a complete-game shutout by pitcher Katie Burkhart and a two-run homer from Mindy Cowles. The win also gave the Sun Devils the first series win since 1991. Burkhart tossed 10 strikeouts in the four-hitter.
The two team’s next meeting had a flair for the dramatic with Arizona (29-14, 6-6) and Arizona State (48-3, 10-1) exchanging leads that culminated in a 9-8 Sun Devils win on a walk-off two RBI single by catcher Kristen Miller.
Arizona State third baseman Krista Donnenwirth earned Pac-10 Softball Player of the Week honors for her play against Arizona by going 3-for-5 with two home runs.
As for Oregon, the pitching has been a strength this season, while the search for consistent offense is ongoing.
Pitcher Brittany Rumfelt allowed three runs and gave up seven hits in Oregon’s last game, a 3-1 loss to Oregon State. Rumfelt’s performance complemented her previous Pac-10 start, at Stanford the weekend before. She tossed a three-hitter against the Cardinal with a strikeout and three walks.
The Ducks’ top hitter, centerfielder Neena Bryant, is ranked in the top 10 in a variety of categories in the Pac-10. Bryant is fifth in hits (56), tied for fifth in total bases (93), fifth in stolen bases (21), seventh in batting average (.378) and 10th in slugging percentage (.628).
Teammate second baseman Cortney Kivett’s 31 stolen bases leads the Pac-10 and is fourth all-time in a season for Oregon.
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