Outstanding pitching, perfect defense and five home runs combined to give No. 20 Oregon the edge in two games against Nevada on Wednesday.
Freshman pitcher Amy Harris took a perfect game into the top of the seventh inning in the first game, eventually giving up three hits and one run in the Ducks’ 6-1 win.
In the second game, freshman shortstop Breanne Sabol hit her first home run of the season — a two-run shot to center field in the bottom of the second — to give Oregon (26-14 overall, 4-8 Pacific-10 Conference) the early 2-0 lead. The Ducks won the game, 4-0.
“We accomplished our first goal of the year in that first game by getting that 25th win,” head coach Kathy Arendsen said. “It assures us of a winning record and now puts us in line for the postseason. Getting the second win now puts us at one game even better than that. I’m really pleased. I thought it was great effort and good team wins.”
Senior third baseman Lynsey Haij scored the first run of the opening game. After hitting a double, Haij advanced to third base on junior catcher Jenn Poore’s sacrifice fly. The ball went out of play as Nevada (20-29 overall) tried to throw out Haij, giving her the extra base and Oregon’s first run.
Three pitches later, senior left fielder Andrea Vidlund hit her ninth home run of the season off the right-field scoreboard.
In the bottom of the third, Haij and Poore both earned walks. Vidlund rocketed the second pitch she saw for a double to left field. Haij and Poore scored on the hit, and Vidlund advanced to third on the throw home.
The next batter, senior first baseman Alyssa Laux, drove in Vidlund with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Senior right fielder Janell Bergstrom led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to right center field for Oregon’s last run of the game.
Harris’ perfect game was cut short in the top of the seventh, when Nevada left fielder Ashley Ablahani singled to right field on the 12th pitch she saw from Harris. Catcher Lindsey Hall followed with a double.
Designated player Carrie Mackey singled to right field with two outs to drive in Ablahani. The Wolfpack’s next batter struck out to end the game. Harris struck out a career-high twelve batters in her seventh complete game of the season. She improved to 12-10.
In the second game, junior Anissa Meashintubby, sophomore Lindsey Kontra and Vidlund combined to throw a two-hit shutout.
Meashintubby earned the win with the start, striking out seven batters in four innings and improving to 4-3. Kontra struck out two in two innings, and Vidlund held the Wolfpack hitless in the seventh to close the game. Nevada was hitless until the top of the fourth inning.

In the bottom of the second, sophomore second baseman Erin Goodell walked with two outs. Sabol, the next batter, connected for her first home run of the season — a long shot to center field.
Haij led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to right field. Freshman right fielder Beth Boskovich followed with a home run to left center.
“Nevada-Reno is a solid ballclub,” Arendsen said. “It’s a first year team and I think their coaches have done a real good job of building that program up. They’re going to become a real force in their conference and they’ll be a tough regional opponent for us.”
The Ducks host Pac-10 rivals No. 1 Arizona and No. 12 Arizona State beginning Friday. Oregon battles the Wildcats on Friday before facing the Sun Devils on Saturday and Sunday.