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Oregon Softball(1-1) Splits Season Opening Doubleheader in Kajikawa Classic

By Justin Phillips

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Geoff Thurner/GoDucks.com

If you live in Eugene and look out your window you may find it hard to believe that Spring sports have begun at the University of Oregon. Yesterday morning the Oregon Softball team kicked off their season with a doubleheader in Arizona in the Kajikawa Classic, the first of several tournaments they will play in to start the 2014 season.

In the season opener Oregon fell to Cal Poly 6-4. Sophomore Pitcher Cheridan Hawkins started the game after a stellar Freshman season in 2013. She surrendered two home runs before Louisville transfer Jasmine Smithson-Willette came in to settle things down. She finished with 2  2/3 innings pitched allowing just one run(on a home run) and struck out two.

Offensively Oregon had some home runs of their own courtesy of Freshman Infielder Nikki Udria and Outfielder Janie Takeda plated three of the Ducks four home runs in the game. The second game of the series was a different story as Mike White and company played a close game against Fresno State.

Veterans and Seniors Courrney Ceo and Catcher Alexa Peterson helped Oregon earn the victory in the nightcap over the Bulldogs. The Ducks pitching was again a problem from the start after scoring one run in the first inning off a Peterson homerun, Fresno State responded with four runs of their own in the first frame. The slugfest continued throughout the game and in the ninth it was tied at 9 before Ceo stole third base. Peterson was up next and hit a sac fly which allowed Ceo to score the winning run. The Ducks, 1-1 on the season continue play today in the Kakikawa Classic.

Oregon faces Appalachian State Saturday, Feburary 8th at 2pm, followed by North Carolina State at 3:30.The final game against Boise State in the tournament is slated for 11:30am Sunday, Feburary 8th. The Ducks next head to Las Vegas for the Easton Desert Classic next weekend.

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