Oregon Softball: NCAA Tournament Eugene Regional Presents A Challenge
The Oregon Ducks Softball team enters the NCAA Tournament with ten straight wins, but the postseason is sometimes a different animal altogether from the regular season.
Oregon Head Coach Mike White is 21-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in his time in Eugene, going back to Howe Field. While the Oregon Ducks meet Illinois-Chicago on Friday night there are other teams in town in the four-team pod. The first game features Wisconsin and Missouri. The Ducks and Missouri met earlier this season during Non-Conference play. Oregon won both games during their 35-0 start to the season.
More from Autzen Zoo
- Oregon football: Ducks and Coach Prime playing it cordial leading up to Saturday
- Oregon Basketball: Non-conference slate features Michigan coming to Eugene
- Oregon football: Ducks find complete game effort in win vs Hawaii
- Oregon Ducks must get run game going against Hawaii
- 8 Pac-12 teams represented in Associated Press Top 25 after Week 2
The Oregon Ducks saw a slump in the middle of the season that saw them lose 6 of 9 games in a key stretch, but the team has rebounded. Jenna Lilley found her bat and Nikki Udria has been a leader for the entire season on Offense. The story of this team has been pitching. Megan Kleist leads the charge along with Freshman Maggie Balint and Miranda Elish, who can bot only pitch, but also provide a hit when needed in key situations.
On the surface, Illinois-Chicago appears to be an easy opponent, but teams that make the NCAA Tournament make it for a reason. Despite going 38-20 and 20-4 in the Horizon League, the Flames have some power to their lineup. Lexi Watts and Jenna Speth are hitting over .300 and Karissa Frasier and Elane Heflin have ERA’s under 3 and have thrown a combined 21 complete games on the season.
Next: RB Blount Signs One Year Deal With Philadelphia
Oregon and Illinois-Chicago are the second game of the evening on Friday following Wisconsin and Missouri at 6pm on ESPN2. Both games will be broadcast locally in Eugene/Springfield on KWVA 88.1 FM