NCAA Tournament: Miranda Elish, Oregon Ducks Even Series With 6-1 Win

Oregon Softball found their Offense in a 6-1 win over Kentucky in the Eugene Super Regional on Friday night.

The Oregon Ducks needed better play in Game 2 and to stop the Kentucky Wildcats early. On Thursday night in the opening game, the Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Kentucky torched Megan Kleist for 7 runs off hits. The Ducks sent Miranda Elish to the circle in the second game of the three-game series.

Elish would have to wait to enter the circle as Oregon was the away team for Game 2 vs Kentucky. Oregon opened the game. The Ducks hit into two groundouts and a strikeout to close the top of the first inning. Oregon saw two assists from Jenna Lilley in two groundouts forced by Elish in the bottom of the first inning. Camuso threw to Lauren Lauren Lindvall to end the inning.

Gwen Svekis opened the second inning with a hit. She was thrown out at second on a hit by Shannon Rhodes. Lauren Burke followed with a double before Mary Iakopo grounded out. The game was scoreless heading into the bottom of the second inning.

The Oregon Ducks opened the top of the fourth scoring four runs off three hits and an error. Lauren Burke sparked a three RBI at bat with a double with one out in the inning.

Miranda Elish returned to the circle and gave up the first Wildcat hit of the game. Two Wildcats reached base on an Oregon fielding error and Kentucky scored their first run of the game on a fly ball to deep left field by Alex Martens. Elish struck out two in the inning.

Oregon continued to hit with Shannon Rhodes opening the top of the sixth with a single. Lauren Lindvall put down a perfect bunt for a hit with one out advancing Rhodes to third base. Rhodes was tagged out as Mia Camuso reached on a fielders choice. Jenna Lilley flipped over the Ducks lineup and hit a two-RBI double giving Oregon a 6-1 lead over Kentucky.

Miranda Elish threw her first full count of the game in the bottom of the sixth but remained dominant in the circle. She threw hard for seven innings winning the game 6-1. The Ducks hit .455 with Runners in Scoring position and .300 with two outs. Elish held the Kentucky Offense to a .091 batting average while Oregon hit .310 for the game.

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With the win, Oregon tied the series at 1-1 with the deciding game set for Saturday at 6 pm Pacific Time on ESPN.