Geoff Thurner/GoDucks.com

Game 1 went to Oregon as the #9 Ducks hit three homers on the way to an 11-3 win. Game 2 of the Doubleheader five Ducks hit safely twice in another 11-1 win and Coach Mike White’s team finished off Utah in Game 3 on Wednesday as Jessica Moore picked up her 15th win on the season 5-3 over Utah.

In the opener on Tuesday, two Oregon hitters had three hits, Sophomore CenterfielderJanie Takeda (3-4. RBI) and Junior Catcher Alexa Peterson(3-4, 2 RBI’s). Senior Jessica Moore(14-3) pitched her fourth complete game of the season, striking out two and allowing seven hits and three earned runs. 

In Game 2 on Tuesday Oregon picked up where they left off in Game 1. Pac 12 Pitcher of the Week Cheridan Hawkins(13-2) went 5 innings, struck out eight, gave up 4 hits and an unearned run. The Oregon hit parade continued with Janie Takeda (2-for-3, RBI),Courtney  Ceo (2-for-3, BB), Kaylan Howard (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Janelle Lindvall (2-for-3, 3 RBI) and Danica Mercado (2-for-2, RBI, BB) all hit safely not once, but twice for Oregon.

Wednesday’s Finale was more the same. Jessica Moore picked up the win. Karissa Hovinga and Cheridan Hawkins started the finale. At the plate Second Baseman Kaylan Howard and Catcher Alexa Peterson both had two hits for the Ducks(Peterson also had 2 RBI’s).

Up next for Oregon a weekend series with Cal, starting with a doubleheader in Berkeley on Saturday starting at 1pm.

Oregon Ducks This Week:

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Starting Pitcher Cheridan Hawkins was named Pac 12 Pitcher of the Week after earning two of three wins on the week, including a 10-3 win over the Cardinal(last weekend) and a 4-2 win over the Huskies(Friday). In her second complete game of the year on Friday she logged 7 strikeouts with two hits and two walks in 7 innings.

It’s the third Pitcher of the Week honor for Hawkins and her second in a row.

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Turning to offense for the other Player of the Week, Junior Kailee Cuico led the team in homeruns(3), RBI(6) and slugging percentage over the past week. She hit a home run in 3 of 4 games versus the Huskies and leads the team in several categories including, multi-RBI games (12), homers (10), RBI (34) and total bases (64).

The Ducks return home to Howe Field to face Utah for three games (Tuesday, 3pm(Doubeheader), and Wednesday at 11:30, before heading south to face California for a two game set this weekend.

Oregon Ducks This Week:

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The Ducks were hitting three’s early in the game to keep it close. Oregon Senior E.J. Singler led the Ducks with 21 points and 7 rebounds. Senior Tony Woods added 13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks.

“We didn’t play with the energy, the purpose, the focus that we needed.  In a game like this, every possession counts and we didn’t get to the ball quick enough.” Dana Altman on the loss to Utah

March 9, 2013; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Mandatory Credit: Douglas C. Pizac-USA Today Sports

Oregon still has plenty to play for, but they will do it without the Pac 12 Title, which goes to UCLA(13-5 Pac 12). Cal finished the year in 2nd(12-6 Pac 12) and the Ducks came in third(12-6 Pac 12). A second place tie is not a bad place to finish for this team, who at the beginning of the season was picked quite a bit lower.

The Utes beat their first ranked opponent since November of 2009, and also their first time beating consecutive conference opponents since joining the Pac 12. The Ducks will lick their wounds and get set as the #3 Seed in this week’s Pac 12 Tournament and will face either 6 Seed Washington or 11 Seed Washington State on Thursday(8:30. ESPNU)

Oregon Ducks This Week:

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