The 15th-ranked Oregon softball team will try to rebound from a pair of tough home losses against No. 1 California when they begin a three-game series at 11th-ranked Arizona Friday night in Tucson.@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205419544@@
The Ducks (32-11, 9-7 Pac-12) have won six of their last eight games heading into their final road trip of the regular season and will try to defend the half-game lead they hold over the Wildcats (31-12, 8-7 Pac-12) in the conference standings.@@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&KEY=&SPID=245&SPSID=4374@@
However, Arizona has also won six of their last eight contests and are the only team besides Oregon to defeat California in Pac-12 play, winning 8-3 on April 14.@@http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/w-softbl/sched/ariz-w-softbl-sched.html@@
“Arizona has been playing pretty well lately,” Oregon head coach Mike White said. “They’re hitting the ball extremely well, their pitching is starting to come around and they also beat Cal, so they’re capable for sure.”
Last year in Tucson, the Ducks claimed 2-0 and 12-6 victories over Wildcats to take the season series and narrowly missed the sweep when they fell 7-6 in the series finale. Arizona, which reached the NCAA Super Regionals in 2011, have turned things around offensively, thanks to some stand-out performances from two talented freshmen.
Arizona freshman center fielder Hallie Wilson has reached base in 17 consecutive games, recording 19 hits, eight walks and two hit-by-pitches to carry a .373 batting average and .475 on-base percentage. Fellow freshman Shelby Pendley has homered in each of her last three at-bats, and her 17 round-trippers for the year is tied for the second-best total in Pac-12 play.@@http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/wilson_hallie00.html, http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/pendley_shelby00.html checked in first link@@
Oregon will likely be without the services of senior shortstop Kelsey Chambers, who suffered an apparent injury to her right eye in Sunday’s game against Cal. Chambers is tied for the top spot in home runs (8), but she leads in doubles (11), RBIs (40) and runs scored (35).@@checked in first link — yes, but she is tied in hr, not leading@@
Adding to an already important weekend for the Ducks will be the hometown crowd at the historic Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium, which seats 2,956 people. The home of the eight-time NCAA champions — including back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007 — is considered one of the premier venues in college softball.@@http://tucson.citysearch.com/profile/11424847/tucson_az/university_of_arizona_rita_hillenbrand_memorial_stadium.html Checked the 2956 number@@ @@http://tinyurl.com/7q3oruh@@
“We have a lot of respect for Arizona,” White said. “Especially going down there and playing in front of 2,500 to 3,000 fans. It can be a little difficult.”
The Wildcats led the nation in attendance from 2000-02 and from 2006-08.@@http://azstarnet.com/sports/softball/college/wildcats/article_7eb8ab9c-c1a1-5b27-91db-1c6f34df7e75.html@@