Oregon Softball: Pitcher Jessica Moore Named USA Softball Player of the Week
In 2012-2013 the Oregon Women’s Softball team has racked up plenty of weekly awards, mostly from the Pac 12 Conference, but this is the first time a U of O Player has won the USA Softball Player of the Week honor in the 11 year history of the award. Moore now has 97 wins in her career with the Ducks and went 3-0 last week in the home finale. Moore also won the Pac 12 Pitcher of the Week Honor this week. Oregon also moved up to #2 in the lastest USA Softball poll, behind Oklahoma at #1.
Press Release from the U of O:
Oregon Starting Pitcher Jessica Moore
GoDucks.com
OKLAHOMA CITY – University of Oregon senior Jessica Moore was honored as the USA Softball National Player of the Week honor Tuesday after she posted a 3-0 mark at home last week vs. Oregon State and Seattle.
Helping the Ducks (45-7, 18-3) stake their first-ever Pac-12 title, the Sutter, Calif., native posted nine strikeouts in starts vs. both the Redhawks and Beavers – one shy of her season high.
She also struck out five in her other win vs. returning NCAA Regional finalist OSU.
For the week, she led the team in wins (3), innings (17), complete games (2) and starts (3), and stood second in ERA (0.41) and opposing batting average (.098).
“I’m really honored to be have been selected,” said Moore. “The award adds to the great year that we have had so far, and I’m so glad to be a part of this team. Winning a Pac-12 title was a huge step for this program. It adds to our legacy and gives us extra momentum heading into the future. We’re excited to be starting the final month of the season, and are feeling stronger and stronger.”
All-time for UO, she improved her school career records for wins (97), strikeouts (875), innings (862) and appearances (168), and other top-10 career marks for shutouts (fourth, 18) and complete games (sixth, 74).
On Duck all-time season charts, she moved up to fourth for wins (24) and matched her sophomore mark.
This week she also ranked top 25 nationally in wins (20th, 24) and ERA (24th, 1.53) and stood second in the Pac-12 in each.
At the plate, she boosted the Duck offense with a homer vs. both Seattle (a two-run first-inning blast) and OSU (sixth-inning solo homer) to give her three on the season and six career-wise.
That latter round-tripper in the 2-1 win was her first game-winning RBI of the season and helped her hit .500 for the week (3-for-6) with a team-high 1.500 slugging mark.
“We’re so thrilled that Jess was selected for such a prestigious honor,” said Oregon head coach Mike White. “She has worked very hard the past four years, and has always been a leader on and off the field. The timing of the award is especially fitting after she helped the team win its first conference title at home on Senior Day.”
Tuesday’s award was the first USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Week honor for an Oregon Duck in the 11-year history of the award.
Earlier this week, she picked up the fourth Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week honor of her career and second of the season.
Last month, she was similarly honored with NFCA National Player of the Week laurels after she beat then-No. 17 Arizona twice (including a perfect game in the finale).
Team-wise last week, Oregon scored a pair of wins vs. Seattle (4-0, 6-4) and its second season sweep of Oregon State (2-1, 11-0 (5), 8-0 (5)) the past three years (and sixth ever).
This week, No. 2 UO caps the regular season with three games at No. 5 Arizona State (43-9, 14-7), Thursday-Saturday, May 9-11. The final two games will be televised live by the Pac-12 Network at 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The next day on Sunday, May 12, the 64-team NCAA Tournament selection show will be aired by ESPNU at 7 p.m. Pacific Time
Oregon Ducks This Week:
Chicago Bears Top Pick Kyle Long Will Miss Time Due To Oregon’s Final Exam SchedulePac 12 Post Spring Power Rankings On ESPN: Oregon At #2 Behind Stanford Oregon Basketball: Moser(UNLV) Commits to Ducks