The No. 11 Oregon softball team saw somewhat mixed results at the season-opening Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., over the weekend.
With a win over San Diego State on Sunday afternoon, the Ducks came away with a 3-2 record and some areas in need of improvement. @@https://www.nmnathletics.com//pdf8/824432.pdf?ATCLID=205378696&SPSID=4377&SPID=245&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500@@
In the tournament finale, freshman Hannah Melick hit a two-run, pinch-hit double in the seventh inning to seal a 5-4 victory over the Aztecs. Junior pitcher Jessica Moore tossed her second complete game of the weekend, allowing four hits while striking out five and walking four. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=245&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205378696@@
For the tournament, Moore (2-2) threw 22 2/3 innings and allowed 10 runs off 22 hits.  She struck out 19 and walked 12. Sophomore Courtney Ceo paced the Ducks offensively with eight hits in 17 at-bats to go along with six runs.
On Friday morning, Oregon handled UC Santa Barbara, 9-2 in five innings before suffering its first loss of the season to New Mexico later that night. Senior shortstop Kelsey Chambers was one of three Ducks to homer in the opening contest, which moved her into a tie for sixth place on Oregon’s all-time list with 27 career round-trippers.
The Ducks stayed hot at the plate against the Lobos, putting up a 6-0 lead through five innings, but New Mexico drove in three runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh to steal a victory.
Saturday morning featured a narrow 2-1 loss at the hands of BYU, which also advanced to the Super Regionals last spring. With the game knotted at 1-1 after the sixth inning, BYU took advantage of two defensive errors committed by Oregon that allowed the winning run to score with two outs in the frame.
Oregon was able to shake off the loss a few hours later when it took down San Jose State 9-0. The Ducks got hits from eight of their nine spots in the lineup, and ended with 12 hits and five walks in 26 at-bats overall.
Chambers continued to execute at the plate, going 4 for 4 with five RBI and her second home run of the tournament. With 28 career home runs, Chambers now sits just nine shy of Andrea Widlund’s school record of 37. Her 10 RBI and 15 total bases were team highs for the weekend, though she also was credited with four errors in the field. @@https://www.nmnathletics.com//pdf8/823932.pdf?ATCLID=205378288&SPSID=4377&SPID=245&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500@@
Freshman right-hander Karissa Hovinga tallied her first shutout of the season in the circle against San Jose State. She allowed four hits, walked three and struck out three more in five innings of work. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=245&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205378288@@
The Ducks have a one-week break from games before returning to action at the Cathedral City Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., Feb. 24-26.