What a weekend for Jill Robinson.
In the three final Pacific-10 Conference home games of the senior’s career she set two new school home run records.
On Friday, the Winton, Calif., native belted the 32nd homer of her career, breaking a tie with Kathy Stahl for most career home runs. Then on Sunday, she crushed her 15th tater of the season, moving past Katie Mackey for the most in a single season.
“I was ready to go,” Robinson said. “I was really focused and really intense the whole game. I wish cameras were here so I could smile for them.”
Unfortunately the team did not have as much success as Robinson did, dropping two of the three games. On Friday, the No. 16 Ducks (34-24 overall, 6-12 Pac-10) lost to No. 10 Stanford 2-1, and then to No. 9 California 4-0 Saturday.
But the Ducks got the win they needed Sunday, beating Cal 4-0 and sending the seniors out winners.
“We got together right before the game and talked about how we needed to send them out on a good note,” head coach Rick Gamez said. “They laid it all on the line today.”
Robinson put the home team on the board first with her two-run home run. Fellow senior Andrea Gustafson started the game with a walk and stole second to set up Robinson.
“That gave us the edge,” Robinson said. “I don’t think we were comfortable with it. We had to battle all day on defense.”
Oregon didn’t relax at the plate, going right back to work in the third inning. Freshman Amber Hutchison started the rally with a walk with no one out. She then advanced to second when fellow freshman Alyssa Laux drew a free pass of her own.
Both runners moved up on a wild pitch, putting runners on second and third with only one out and Robinson at the plate.
After the wild pitch, the Bears intentionally walked Robinson to load the bases for another freshman, Andrea Vidlund.
Vidlund then delivered a base hit up the middle to score two runs and push the Ducks’ lead to 4-0.
“I knew that two runs wasn’t going to be enough,” Vidlund said. “I really wanted to hit the ball hard on the ground. I waited for my pitch and hit it up the middle.”
Four runs were more than enough for starting pitcher Connie McMurren (15-16), who shut out the Bears, while holding them to only two hits and striking out seven.
“That was so much fun, that was the most fun I’ve ever had pitching a game,” McMurren said. “We were so fired up from the beginning, we were ready to attack.”
It was another strong outing from the sophomore, and the seniors got a win on their final day.
“Connie threw an amazing game,” Robinson said. “I’m so proud of her; she came out here and got the job done.”
Sunday’s result was the exact opposite of Saturday’s, when the Ducks found themselves on the short end, 4-0.
Cal starter Jocelyn Forrest held Oregon to four hits total, while striking out eight. Her teammates used six hits to get their four runs and give Vidlund (16-7) the loss.
In the top of the first, Cal loaded the bases with none out and the clean-up hitter Veronica Nelson coming to the plate. Vidlund induced a ground out from Nelson, but the runner from third scored to put the visiting team up 1-0.
Pauline Duenas then laced a single to left-center field, driving in two more runs and increasing the lead to 3-0.
The Bears added a final run in the sixth, as Kristen Morley led off with a double that the outfielders overran. She later scored when she was sacrificed to third and crossed the plate on a Nelson fly-out to right field.
The Ducks’ best scoring threat came in the bottom of the first when two runners reached base with no one out. However, Oregon was unable to score as both runners were left stranded.
“We really needed that game,” Robinson said Sunday. “That kind of hurt us.”
Friday’s contest was no better for Oregon. The team started the final conference home stand with a 2-1 defeat.
In the top of the sixth, Robin Walker drew a free pass and Jessica Mendoza was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs. A passed ball moved the runners into scoring position. Sarah Beeson grounded back to first but Walker was able to score from third. Maureen LeCocq then reached on an error by Holly Ray that scored Mendoza from third.
The Ducks only scoring came in the bottom of the seventh as Robinson began her record-setting weekend with her 32nd career dinger.