Oregon Ducks Struggle With Small Ball At Mary Nutter Classic
The Oregon Ducks(12-3) went 3-2 on the Weekend against Top 25 Competition at the Mary Nutter Classic.
Last season, the Oregon Ducks Softball team did not lose their first game until they reached the Pac-12 Regular season. This year, they have lost three games close games that have counted against Top 25 Competition. There is definitely a challenge this season with a team that is still young.
Oregon entered the season ranked in the Top 5 at number 3 and will likely drop again after back to back losses against Texas A&M and Tennessee at the Mary Nutter Classic over the weekend. Megan Kleist picked up her first loss of the year last week on a game that had key Defensive Errors against Ole Miss.
Kleist picked up her second loss of the season against Texas A&M. She picked up her fourth win of the year in the finale of the Mary Nutter Classic winning with an Oregon run scored in the second inning taking the win 1-0. The Oregon Ducks are still learning how to play small ball this season and some struggles were expected, especially against experienced teams.
In their two losses in the Mary Nutter Classic, the Ducks were held to eight hits combined. Oregon managed five hits against Texas A&M. A Shannon Rhodes Outfield error gave A&M the lead 3-1 in the sixth inning.
There are two undefeated teams remaining in the Pac-12 with Washington and UCLA early in the non-conference season.
Next: Oregon Ducks Claim Pac-12 Regular Season Title
The Oregon Ducks make their way to Florida this week to take on South Florida in a Doubleheader on Thursday, March 1st before the Unconquered Invitational and an early-season showdown with Florida State on Friday. March 2nd at Noon. The Ducks will also take on Florida Gulf Coast and Hofstra over the weekend.