For the first time this season the No. 19 Oregon softball team won the first contest of a three-game series by defeating Oregon State, 7-1, Thursday night at Howe Field.
With the win, Oregon improved to 31-11 overall and 3-7 in Pacific-10 Conference play, while the Beavers dropped to 18-17 overall and 1-9 Pac-10.
“That’s a big win for us,” second-year head coach Mike White said. “Any time we can come out and start the series off with a win, and a convincing win (it’s big).”
The Ducks were held scoreless through the first two innings before freshman Courtney Ceo got the offense rolling in the bottom of the third.
Ceo, batting a team-high .411 this season, led the inning off with a walk and stole second base to move into scoring position. Two batters later, sophomore right fielder Samantha Pappas smacked a full-count RBI double back up the middle to give Oregon its first lead at 1-0.
Oregon starter Jessica Moore held Oregon State scoreless again in the top of the fourth before the Ducks poured on a three-run bottom half of the frame. Senior left fielder Kaitlin Vitek hit her sixth home run of the season over the left-field fence to start the inning, which helped the Oregon bats come to life for the first time in almost two weeks.
“It’s a battle with two strikes,” Vitek said. “You’re always gonna see a lot of good pitches, so it was nice to come out on top with that one.”
Two batters later, Alexa Peterson got a free pass after getting hit by a pitch, and Allie Burger reached on a throwing error that advanced both into scoring position. Ceo knocked in Peterson with a RBI single to shallow center, then Kaylan Howard followed with a sacrifice fly to score Burger and put the Ducks up 4-0.
Moore (16-6) ran into her first sign of trouble in the top of the sixth after Ally Kutz hit an infield single to load the bases with two outs. Oregon State head coach Kirk Walker decided to pinch hit for his No. 9 hitter in favor of junior Ashley Sanchez, and the move nearly paid off.
In her first action of the night, Sanchez prolonged a 12-pitch at-bat by repeatedly fouling off good pitches, but a determined Moore eventually got Sanchez to pop out in foul ground behind home plate to end the Beavers’ surge.
“I didn’t want to give in was the thing,” Moore said of the lengthy at-bat. “I didn’t want to make the mistake and for me to get her to pop up was really big.”
The Sutter, Calif., native tossed her 10th complete game of the season, and struck out four, walked five and allowed six hits in the winning effort.
Senior Monique Fuiava drove in the Ducks’ final run with a full-count, two-out RBI double down the left field line that scored Pappas from first base.
The Beavers’ lone run came in the top of the seventh when Lea Cavestany tagged up on a foul ball down the left field line that shortstop Kelsey Chambers snagged near the fence, but her throw home was cut off by Fuiava and Cavestany slid in safely.
Moore retired the next two batters to seal the victory.
Per usual, White was pleased with his ace’s effort.
“She kept her composure very well,” White said. “She continued to throw quality pitches and get out of the big innings, so I thought she did extremely well.”
Ceo and Pappas paced Oregon offensively with 2-for-3 showings and one RBI each, while Ceo also scored a run, walked and stole three bases.
For Oregon State, Cavestany went 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored, while Erin Guzy (2 for 4) also recorded multiple hits for the Beavers.
The Civil War series continues tonight at 6 p.m. at Howe Field, with the third and final game at 6 p.m. Saturday.
[email protected]