“Why not us?” softball head coach Kathy Arendsen asked. “When we play together and confidently, we can beat anybody.”
Arendsen, who won her 400th career game as head coach on Sunday, says that No. 20 Oregon (28-15 overall, 6-9 Pacific-10 Conference) is doing just that — playing together and confidently — as evidenced by the Ducks’ weekend sweep of No. 12 Arizona State.
An 8-0 loss to No. 1 Arizona on Friday preceded the wins on Saturday, 5-2, and Sunday, 3-0.
Senior third baseman Lynsey Haij’s grand slam propelled Oregon on Saturday, while senior left fielder and pitcher Andrea Vidlund hit her ninth home run of the season on Sunday and earned both saves.
“It always feels better to win at home, to have fans supporting you and people cheering you on,” Vidlund said. “It really gives us a confidence boost, and now we have that same confidence going on the road this weekend.”
The Ducks started off on a treacherous path Friday. After freshman pitcher Amy Harris walked the first two Arizona batters she faced, Wildcat shortstop Lovie Jung drove in a runner for the early 1-0 lead in the first inning.
In the second inning, Jung took advantage of a bases-loaded at bat with her NCAA-leading 23rd home run of the season. Arizona added two runs in the fourth for the 8-0 shutout.
“As good as Arizona is, we’re disappointed,” Arendsen said Friday. “We’re a better ballclub than
we showed.”
Oregon bounced back Saturday against Arizona State.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Ducks started a one-out rally with sophomore second baseman Erin Goodell’s base on balls. Freshman shortstop Breanne Sabol followed with a sacrifice bunt attempt but was safe on an off-target throw.
Senior Amber Hutchison singled to center field, advancing the runners to second and third.
Arizona State tried to stop the damage with a pitching change, but Haij sent Sun Devil pitcher Desiree Serrano’s second pitch over the wall in center field for her first career grand slam.
Freshman right fielder Beth Boskovich kept the rally alive with a walk. She then scored on senior first baseman Alyssa Laux’s two-out double.
Arizona State answered with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth, but Vidlund held the Sun Devils scoreless in the top of the seventh for the save. Oregon’s errorless defense contributed to the 5-2 win.
“Our team has a tremendous amount of character,” Arendsen said Saturday. “I’m really proud of that whole inning. Suddenly we’re getting quality at-bat after quality at-bat, and Lynsey caps it off with a grand slam.”
Sunday, the Ducks picked up their sixth Pac-10 win of the season with a 3-0 shutout of Arizona State.
In the bottom of the second, junior catcher Jenn Poore singled to center. Poore moved up to second when senior center fielder Janell Bergstrom was hit by a Serrano pitch. Goodell attempted a sacrifice bunt and was safe on the play as Serrano made an off-target throw. The misplayed bunt allowed Poore to score for the early 1-0 lead.
The game continued as a pitchers’ duel between Serrano and Harris until the top of the sixth, when Vidlund relieved Harris with no outs and a runner on first. After a groundout, Phelan Wright singled, advancing Valerie Sevilla to second.

The Arizona State rally was halted when Adriana Garcia hit the ball straight back to Vidlund, who threw to Sabol, who in turn successfully completed the double play to Laux to end the inning.
Vidlund answered her defense with offense in the bottom of the sixth, padding Oregon’s lead with a leadoff home run.
Two batters later, Poore doubled to center, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. She then scored on Bergstrom’s single, giving Oregon a 3-0 cushion.
“I’m just thrilled,” Arendsen said. “It’s another series win and a quality win. The players just did a great job.”
Vidlund earned her eighth save of the season — a Pac-10 single-season record, as well as giving Oregon 12 saves on the season, tying a Pac-10 single-season team record.
“I don’t know how big saves are in the Pac-10, or in softball in general, but it’s always an honor to win anything,” Vidlund said.
The Ducks have the week to practice before their last conference road trip of the season on Friday. Oregon travels to UCLA for one game Friday before heading to Washington for two games on Saturday and Sunday.