No. 20 Oregon needed a lift after losing two of three weekend games to Pacific-10 Conference rivals No. 2 UCLA and No. 3 Washington.
The Ducks (23-13 overall, 3-7 Pac-10) found just that as they successfully shut out Portland State (13-21, 5-3 Pacific Coast Softball Conference) — 4-0 and 5-0 — in a doubleheader on Wednesday.
“I thought we played very well in both games today,” head coach Kathy Arendsen said. “Offensively we were clicking and I thought all of our pitchers did a tremendous job. These are very important wins for us as we aim to reach the postseason.”
Freshman pitcher Amy Harris led the Ducks in the pitching circle while senior infielders Alyssa Laux and Lynsey Haij led Oregon at the plate.
In the first game, Harris and junior Anissa Meashintubby combined to throw a four-hitter in the Ducks’ 4-0 shutout of Portland State.
Oregon opened the scoring in the third inning as the Ducks moved a baserunner around the diamond with key hits.
Sophomore second baseman Erin Goodell led off the inning with a walk. Goodell advanced to second on a single to right field by third baseman Haij.
A sacrifice fly by senior designated player Amber Hutchison moved Goodell up to third. She then scored on a throwing error by Portland State catcher Rose Rutledge.
The Ducks added three insurance runs in the fourth as three seniors singled to load the bases. Left fielder Andrea Vidlund led off the inning, followed by first baseman Laux and outfielder Janell Bergstrom.
With one out, Goodell hit a single to left field that scored Vidlund. Laux scored on a sacrifice fly by Haij.
Hutchison drove in Bergstrom with a two-out single to right center to cap the scoring for Oregon.
Harris struck out five batters in four innings, while Meashintubby struck out four in three innings.
Oregon’s 5-0 win in the second game was a two-hitter for the combined efforts of Harris and sophomore pitcher Lindsey Kontra. Each pitcher gave up one hit and struck out two batters.
In the first inning, Haij scored on Laux’s single to center. The third inning run was added in the same style as the Ducks added a second run in the same fashion.
Haij drove in Hutchison on a single early in the fourth. Laux followed three batters later with her third double of the season. Haij and freshman pinch runner Jackie Eliades scored on the hit.
Laux went three for four in the second game including a career-best four RBIs. Haij also went three for four and tied a career-best with three runs scored.
Harris earned both wins on Wednesday, improving to 10-9 on the season. She now has 110 strikeouts on the season, leaving the freshman three shy of a spot in Oregon’s all-time top 10.
After earning the Pac-10 Player of the Week award on Tuesday, Vidlund continued her offensive hot streak with a four for seven performance.
The Ducks return to Howe Field on Friday and Saturday to face No. 25 Oregon State. Both games are set to begin at 2 p.m.