Oregon Ducks Win Eugene Regional, Miranda Elish Dominant With Eleven Strikeouts

Oregon Ducks Starter Miranda Elish found her composure throwing her twentieth complete game in a 3-0 win over Drake.

The Oregon Ducks again faced the Drake Bulldogs for the second straight day, but this time it was in the Eugene Regional Championship. Oregon won on Thursday, and Friday cruising through the competition with Miranda Elish and Megan Kleist. Kleist would be in the circle on Saturday.

Drake Starter Nicole Newman and Oregon Starter Miranda Elish were in a pitcher duel through the first two innings. Tasha Alexander caught a fly ball it by DJ Sanders to end the top of the second inning. She ran into the outfield wall and held onto the ball for the final out of the inning.

Taryn Pena started the bottom of the second inning with an 11 pitch at-bat that resulted in a walk. Kailee Smith tried to bunt, but hit the ball in the air. It was caught by Elish falling just out the circle to the cheers of the sold-out Jane Sanders Stadium Crowd. Libby Ryan stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Gwen Svekis on the next play.

Elish worked her way out of the jam not allowing the Drake runner to score.

Shanon Rhodes looked to have a hit in the top of the third, but the umpire called a foul ball after she tagged first base. Jenna Lilley hit the ball to the infield and was thrown out at first base to end the top of top of the inning for Oregon.

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Alexis Mack started the top of the fourth inning with a hit. DJ Sanders moved her to third base with two outs. Mary Iakopo popped out to first base and the score remained scoreless into the bottom of the fourth inning.

Despite giving up a double in the bottom of the fourth inning, Elish settled in to end the inning with a strikeout. The game remained scoreless headed to the top of the fifth inning.

Oregon opened the top of the sixth with a Mia Camuso single. Lauren Lindvall followed with a single up the middle with no outs. Shannon Rhodes put down a sacrifice bunt moving over the runners as Oregon looked to get some runs on the board. Drake walked Jenna Lilley to load the bases. Drake played the next batter Alexis Mack with five infielders, but Mack laced a single off the right side scoring two for Oregon.

Haley Cruise added a hit scoring DJ Sanders to make it 3-0 Oregon.

Miranda Elish was dominant in the bottom of the fifth inning keeping Drake off the bases.

Mary Iakopo laced a double off third base with Mia Camuso at the plate with one out as Oregon looked to add to their lead. Camuso grounded out to second. Lauren Lindvall hit the ball sharply to third base and was thrown out to end the top half of the inning.

Elish continued to dominate in the circle. Oregon opened the top of the seventh with a base hit by Shannon Rhodes. Jenna Lilley added a base hit up the middle and Oregon was in business with two runners on and Alexis Mack at the plate. Mack dropped the perfect bunt loading the bases with no outs for Haley Cruse. Drake was able to get out of the inning without further damage.

Elish seemed to get stronger when she needed to throughout the game and Oregon won the Eugene Regional Championship 3-0 over Drake to move onto the Super Regional next weekend.

As of Sunday morning, the Lexington Regional was still being decided, and could run into Monday after weather cost a day of competition. Starting the day Sunday, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Kentucky were still alive. The winner of the Lexington Regional comes to Eugene next weekend.