The Oregon Ducks Upset Top Ranked California

The #14 Oregon Ducks softball team defeated #1 California Bears by a score of 1-0 yesterday in Eugene.  The Ducks are now 31-11 (9-6 in the Pac-12) win the win while California drops to 41-3 (12-2 in the Pac-12).  The Ducks have now won six of their last seven games.

The story of the game was the pitching of junior right hander Jessica Moore who improved her record to 22-7 on the season.  Moore went the distance on a four hit shutout while striking out eight.  Bears pitcher Valerie Arioto only lost her second game of the season while giving up one run and five hits.  She is now 18-2 on the year.

The Ducks scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Second basemen Kaylan Howard singled and moved to second base after centerfielder Janie Takeda sacrificed her over.  Arioto threw a wild pitch which advanced Howard to third base and she scored on a single by first basemen Kailee Cuico.  Cuico was the only player in the game to get two hits on the day.  The other Duck hits came from shortstop Kelsey Chambers and catcher Alexa Peterson.

California had a chance to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning.  Danielle Henderson led off with a single to put the tying run on.  She moved to third base after consecutive groundouts by Cheyenne Cordes and Lindsey Ziegenhirt.  Jessica Moore was then able to finish the game by striking out Elia Reid.

The teams have now split the first two games of the three game series with the rubber game set to be played today (Sunday) at noon.   The Ducks are looking to become the first team to win a series from California all season.

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