Everything was in place for an emotional finish.
The packed stands, television cameras and rival Washington all were within Howe Field’s confines on senior day for the Oregon softball team.
Joanna Gail captured the emotion from the start.
The third baseman saved a hit in the first inning when she leapt to her left with two outs and snared a hard-hit ball out of the air. She threw the ball to the ground and voiced encouragement to her teammates.
It was the beginning of an inspired effort from Gail, who, before family and friends, helped lead Oregon and the Ducks’ five seniors to a 3-0 win Saturday over Washington in their final game at Howe Field.
The win salvaged some hope from a week that had already featured a loss to UCLA on Thursday and two defeats to Washington (28-23-1 overall, 7-14 Pacific-10 Conference) on Friday.
Oregon (33-27, 5-16) had to hope its fifth win in Pac-10 play would be enough to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. They learned Sunday that it was enough. Oregon will play Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. later this week.
Gail had perched a stuffed duck on top of the Oregon dugout before the game. Her mom, Katie Emery, had brought the duck to all her daughter’s games, and for her final college game Gail and the team used it as a good luck charm.
In her final at-bat, Gail spun the first pitch toward the Oregon dugout, where it collided with the duck and knocked it on its back.
“I really couldn’t have placed it any better, I think, right in the heart,” Gail said. “It was pretty funny.”