In its second game of the day, No. 14 Oregon softball (18-1) showed no signs of wear as a strong lineup eviscerated Loyola Chicago (3-14) 8-0 in six innings in the first of two weekend matchups. Elyse Sokolsky (six strikeouts) led a defensive clinic for the Ducks from the circle, while Kedre Luschar (2-3, one RBI) continued her hot streak on the weekend.

“We have a great pitching staff,” Oregon associate head coach Sam Marder said. “We have dominant, dominant defense, and they really showed that, I think, throughout the weekend and tonight.”

After a routine 6-0 win over San Diego University earlier in the day was keyed by pitcher Lyndsey Grein, who hit 300 strikeouts against the Toreros, Sokolsky (4-0, 2.27 ERA) was handed the ball for Oregon on the verge of the same record. 

For the Ramblers, who lost handily to San Diego on Friday before splitting their two matchups with Portland State, what hope there was of an upset was quickly extinguished. Sokolsky drew a groundout and strikeout, but gave up a single to designated player Bella Crimaldi — who advanced to second on a wild pitch. 

Her imperious form soon returned, though, and Sokolsky struck out the next batter, Skyler Croker, to claim her 300th-career K with “Swing Batter Batter Swing” blasting.

“It’s really cool,” Sokolsky said. “If I’m being honest, I didn’t know it was coming up. It was just really cool being able to celebrate with the team.”

The gap between the two teams was evident from Oregon’s first inning, where the Ducks got their entire lineup to the plate and recorded four runs. 

Leadoff hitter Kai Luschar — who went 0-4 earlier in the day against San Diego despite swinging well — filled the count against Ramblers starter Andie Broniewicz (2-2) before turning a ground ball into an infield single with blazing speed and stealing a bag on the first pitch of the next at-bat.

Luschar would make it all the way around from second on a throwing error from Ramblers catcher Nat Lesnicki before Patmon tagged up at third on a Rylee McCoy flyout to slide home for the Ducks’ first and second runs of the night. Paige Sinicki piled on the third run of the inning when she scored from second on a Kedre Luschar single to right field. Luschar, too, would eventually score on a Katie Flannery RBI single.

The Ducks didn’t need many hits to get runners in scoring position. Oregon grabbed five bags in the first inning alone — Kai Luschar, Dezianna Patmon, Sinicki and Kedre Luschar all stole second early in the count after getting on base, and all four runners scored.

Asked about Oregon’s speed, Marder said, “I think it’s something offensively that we know is going to show up every single day. There are just times where, offensively, you’re just not swinging well…what’s so pivotal about our speed is that it can continue to get us into scoring position.”

After shutting out Loyola in the top of the second frame, Oregon cooled off in the bottom half as Luschar, Patmon and McCoy went down in order.

But there would be no joy for the Ramblers. Their batters went almost as easily and, despite a single from Sierra Sass, they still couldn’t put a run on the board.

“No runs, no hits, no errors” became the regular refrain as zeroes piled up on the right field scoreboard and Oregon’s nightcap became a formality. It was yet another strong outing from a Ducks group that has begun to prove its strength to Sokolsky.

“I feel like we’ve known from the start [that this team was elite],” Sokolsky said. “Before we had even started practicing, our entire team was out on the field, and I was like, ‘This is electric.’”

The Ducks wouldn’t add their fifth run until the third when Flannery lined a full-count pitch into right field to score Kedre Luschar.

Luschar was imperious in center field on a night highlighted by a fifth inning in which she grabbed three deep shots to blank the Ramblers. On the other side of the inning, Ma’ake was the one to crush a two-RBI bomb to left, extending the lead to seven as she rounded first base with her arms extended into the night air. 

“I think we’re still early in the season,” Sokolsky said, “so we’re working through stuff just like every person is. But to have an offense that takes the pressure off of me…it’s awesome.”

Remmington Hewitt and Patmon completed the run-rule win as the latter doubled into the left field gap to score the former. Oregon’s dugout emerged for the second time on Saturday to celebrate the win, and then retired to do it all again tomorrow.

“[We’re] maybe a third of the way through the season now,” Marder said, “and there’s been so many highlights. Preseason before conference play can be grueling…what this team is showing is that we could win being dominant offensively, [and] we can win with the one in the circle.”

Oregon will face Loyola again on Sunday at 1:00 PM to wrap up its first home tournament of the year.