Oregon Softball: Nikki Udria Powers Ducks To 1-0 Win Over BYU
The Oregon Ducks needed a Defensive Effort to beat Brigham Young on Thursday night 1-0 and reach 30 wins on the season.
The Oregon Ducks met the BYU Cougars for a single game on Thursday night. Both teams had pitching momentum heading into the Non-Conference game. Mike White and the Oregon Ducks were looking to get to 30-0 on the season. BYU entered the game ranked 25th in the Nation looking to improve on that number.
McKenna Bull saw the ball for the Cougars. She was stellar last week. In two starts she saw two wins to go with an ERA near 1 and 22 strikeouts. BYU has played in the Eugene Regional of the NCAA Tournament on more than a few occasions the last few seasons. A win during the season could give the Cougars some momentum entering the post season.
The Oregon Ducks sent Miranda Elish to the mound for her 9th start of the year. Elish found trouble in the first giving up a hit, but her Defense bailed her out stranding a BYU hitter at third base.
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BYU kept at it in the second inning as Caitlyn Larsen Aldredge whipped a double down the third base line with two outs. The Ducks Defense would again bail her out with Jenna Lilley throwing to Mia Camuso to end the Cougars threat.
The Oregon Ducks have been their best all season in the first two innings. BYU held the Ducks hitless and scoreless in the first two innings on Thursday. Sammy Puentes was the first Oregon batter to get on base with a hit in the bottom of the third inning, but Oregon came up empty as the score remained scoreless.
Danica Mercado started the bottom of the fourth with a double. McKenna Bull was still throwing strong to get back to back outs. The game remained scoreless into the top of the fifth inning.
It was turning into the kind of game where one bounce could be the difference. BYU got a bounce in the top of the sixth as the ball was hit by Rylee Jenson. It bounced off the front of second base and toward center field. Oregon then made a pitching change and brought in Maggie Balint.
Balint came in and shut down the BYU Lineup with back to back outs.
Alexis Mack forced an infield error with a single with one out. Danica Mercado laid down the perfect bunt putting to Ducks on base for Gwen Svekis as it felt like momentum was shifting in favor of the home team. Nikki Udria picked up an RBI with two outs giving Oregon a 1-0 lead.
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One run would be enough for Oregon to win the game and get to 30-0 on the season.
The Oregon Ducks would have a quick turnaround with Arizona State coming in for the weekend on Friday(6pm PT), Saturday(2pm PT), and Sunday (Noon, PT)