Kajikawa Classic: Oregon Softball Starts Season 5-1, Gillespie Powering Offense

The sixth ranked Oregon Softball team has started the 2016 season facing solid competition at the Kajikawa Classic in Arizona. The tournament plays two games each day and tested Mike White and his team early, but in some of the games it seemed more like batting practice than an actual game, especially for players who have been here before. Cheridan Hawkins was solid to begin the year and is 1-1. She has faced 37 batters and hit the very first batter she faced this season. Hawkins has also given up three early homeruns and her ERA should come down in the coming weeks. It currently stands at 7.20.

• 2016 Kajikawa Classic Opponents:
• Cal Poly(W), Georgia State(W), Maryland(W), Kentucky(L), Northwestern(W), Boston College(W)

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Freshman Megan Kleist saw her first action for the Oregon Ducks and picked up two wins over the weekend. Her performance against Maryland saw her throw three innings and record two strikeouts. Last season on Offense Leadoff Hitter Janie Takada set the table for Oregon early and often. In 2016, Alyssa Gillespie appears to be picking up where Takeda left off.

Gillespie is hitting at a .625 clip and through four played games has hit a homerun to go along with 6 runs, 10 hits, 2 doubles and 2 stolen bases. Not a bad effort to begin the season. Koral Costa is right behind with 3 runs, 6 hits and 2 doubles to help power the Oregon Offense. The Ducks did stumble once, against 17th ranked Kentucky, but played their way back in the game and had two players on base with two outs in the bottom of the 7th inning. They had a chance to win or tie, but came up short.

Oregon Softball now heads to Louisiana for the 30th Louisiana Classics to take on Louisiana-Lafayette and Central Arkansas starting this weekend. The Oregon Ducks home opener is Thursday, March 24th hosting Stanford when Jane Sanders Stadium will host the home opener for first time after an offseason of construction.

Next: Oregon Ducks Hold Off Pesky Colorado

Oregon faces Louisiana Lafayette twice on Friday at Noon and 3pm Pacific Time. The games will be broadcast on 88.1 KWVA in Eugene.