In the midst of Pacific-10 Conference play, No. 20 Oregon has tied its combined conference win record from the past two seasons.
The Ducks split their first weekend of Pac-10 play at home, playing what head coach Kathy Arendsen called a “phenomenal” game against UCLA on Saturday. The Ducks pulled out the 5-4 win over the Bruins — the first time since May 1999 that Oregon won against UCLA and the first time since May 1998 that the Bruins did not sweep the Ducks in Eugene.
Friday’s 9-0 loss to No. 3 Washington extended the Huskies’ Eugene winning streak to five years.
“It was rather disappointing,” Arendsen said about Friday’s game.
The game included a first inning home run by Husky Kristen Rivera that fans claimed was foul — and they didn’t let the umpires forget it for the rest of the weekend.
Regardless of the Friday and Sunday — a 9-3 loss to UCLA — outcomes, Oregon’s senior class now has its second-most Pac-10 wins for a season with conference play only halfway over.
A Wednesday doubleheader against Portland State sends Oregon into a two-game home series against Oregon State. The Ducks have already chalked up one Pac-10 win in Corvallis this season.

Basketball vibes rub off
The day of the Ducks’ 5-4 win over UCLA, a special guest paid Oregon a pregame visit.
Men’s basketball head coach Ernie Kent spoke to the softball team before the squad’s first game against UCLA.
“It was a motivational point of view,” Arendsen said. “He talked about where basketball was when he arrived at Oregon and how it’s progressed.”
From Oregon’s inspired performance on
Saturday, it seems a little motivation was just what the Ducks needed.
“It was wonderful to hear his view,” Arendsen said.

Oregon vs. Ducks — the tale of two uniforms
In their five home games during the past week, the Ducks wore two different home uniforms.
Against Portland State, Oregon debuted its new home jersey — with the crisp, Athletic Department-sponsored font, reading “Ducks.”
While the squad kept that jersey on for the Washington game and the Sunday loss to UCLA, Oregon switched it up for Saturday’s win.
The three-year-old “Oregon” jerseys the team wore date back to the 2000 season — when the Ducks won six conference games and made their last NCAA Regional Tournament visit.
Sometimes bringing back the winning threads can win the games — as long as they’re thoroughly washed.

Duck of the Week

“Andrea Vidlund had an incredible weekend,” Arendsen said. “Three home runs off of UCLA’s All-American pitcher.”
Combine her weekend performance with Wednesday’s Portland State doubleheader and Vidlund batted .500 — seven for 14, including five home runs. The senior also had eight RBIs and scored eight runs. Add in a little flavor with four innings pitched, where Vidlund earned a win and a save.
The eight RBIs move Vidlund to only 23 short of Oregon’s all-time top five, while the five home runs put her seven away from breaking the school record.
“It was a great feeling to get my offense going,” Vidlund said after Sunday’s game. “I had been struggling a little bit and this was a great time to come out of it this way.”