It was Senior Day on Sunday at Howe Field, which meant lots of hugs, flowers and emotion filled the air.
Unfortunately for the Ducks, No. 3 Arizona wasn’t feeling too sentimental. The Wildcats pounded No. 19 Oregon 11-0 in just five innings, as a seven-run mercy rule took effect.
The lopsided defeat took place less than 24 hours after senior Neena Bryant won the game on Saturday with an 11th-inning home run. Thinking the team would have some momentum going into Sunday, head coach Mike White was left flummoxed.
“The way we came out today was not very awe-inspiring to me,” White said. “I’d like to see us play consistent defense, for one, and get some consistent pitching. And our hitting could be a lot better.”
Indeed, the Ducks struggled with just about every aspect of the game on Sunday. While the Wildcats pounded out 10 hits and scored in all but one inning, Oregon was shut out and held to just two hits. The Ducks also committed three costly errors, and three of Arizona’s 11 runs were unearned.
“All three phases of the game today we didn’t do very well,” White said. “To me, that’s a big concern and something we need to address this week in practice.”
Oregon may have struggled with fundamentals, but Arizona pitcher Kenzie Fowler certainly didn’t make matters any easier. The freshman phenom threw all five innings, shutting the Ducks out and striking out eight.
“She really, in and out, is great,” White said. “Her location is fantastic for somebody that throws that hard … she’s difficult; she’s going to be very, very good by the time she leaves Arizona.”
The game was put permanently out of reach when sophomore Lini Koria hit a grand slam to deep left field in the fourth. That brought the score to 9-0, and Oregon never recovered.
The loss was particularly difficult for Bryant to stomach, who seemed at a loss for words after the game.
“Obviously right now I can’t really talk about it,” Bryant said. “Because this is just kind of heartbreaking.”
Still, Bryant needs only to look at Saturday’s result for a bit of consolation.
It took 11 innings, but the Ducks were finally able to defeat the Wildcats by a score of 2-1. Bryant walked off the diamond as the hero of the day after blasting a two-run home run to win the game. Not to be ignored, however, was the performance of pitcher Jessica Moore.
The freshman logged a complete game, giving up just one run and striking out 13. Such dominance would be impressive against any team. When it occurs while facing the best offense in the country, it is truly special.
“That was really fun,” senior Carlyn Re said. “I’m really happy for Neena; it was a great win. Jess pitched her heart out, and the defense played well, and we deserved it … I’m glad we pulled it out.”
The win on Saturday was particularly satisfying after a disappointing series opener on Friday. Tied at 1-1 through the first five innings, the Wildcats finally broke through in the top of the sixth with seven runs. A whopping six of those runs were unearned, as the Ducks committed three errors to go along with a wild pitch and passed ball.
Oregon would go on to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little, too late en route to an 8-3 loss.
Fowler started all three of the games for Arizona over the weekend, notching her 31st win on Sunday.
[email protected]