NCAA Tournament: Oregon Ducks Run Rule Kentucky 11-1, Head To Oklahoma City
Oregon Softball scored seven runs in the second inning and there was no comeback for the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday.
The Oregon Ducks and Kentucky Wildcats Super Regional Series was tied at one game apiece. The winner on Saturday would go to the College World Series. Oregon lost Game 1, but battled in Game 2 with Miranda Elish in the circle. Elish held a solid Kentucky Offense to just two hits and a.089 ERA in her 21st complete game of the season on Friday night.
Elish was back in the circle on Saturday. The Ducks Sophomore pitcher worked a 2-2 count to a strikeout to start the game. A pop out and lineout followed as Oregon headed to the plate.
Erin Rethlake started the bottom of the inning by hitting Jenna Lilley on the first pitch sending her to first base. Alexis Mack followed with a bunt. She was thrown out at first advancing Lilley. DJ Sanders popped out to center field bringing up Gwen Svekis. Svekis has a home run in the opening game of the series and has been a key home run hitter for Oregon all season. The Senior Catcher was patient working a full count into a walk and putting runners on first and second for Haley Cruse who was celebrating her 20th Birthday. Cruise lined out to first base to end the first inning.
Miranda Elish gave up a hit and hit a batter in the top of the second but was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run. She gave up her first hit of the game. Kentucky is wasting no time and swung at nearly every pitch in the first two innings looking for contact and to make a play.
Shannon Rhodes opened the bottom of the second with a homerun over the right field wall giving Oregon a one run lead and no outs. Lauren Burke who was 6 for 7 for the series walked. Lauren Lindvall was the first out of the inning and was tagged before getting to first base. The play was ruled a sacrifice bunt.
Erin Rethlake issued her third walk of the game to Mia Camuso. Jenna Lilley ripped a base hit up the first base line scoring Lauren Burke giving Oregon a 2-0 lead. It did not take long for the Ducks to flex some Offensive muscle. After loading the bases, DJ Sanders hit a grand slam over the right field wall to take a 6-0 lead over Kentucky. Gwen Svekis was up with still one out in the inning.
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Svekis added a hit and Haley Cruise hit her way to first base as the Ducks batted a round for the first time in the series. Shannon Rhodes hit a single to center scoring Svekis giving Oregon a 7-0 lead. Oregon ended the inning scoring 7 runs off six hits.
Miranda Elish gave up two hits but ended the inning with a strikeout as the score remained 7-0 Oregon.
Oregon added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Gwen Svekis hit a two RBI triple scoring DJ Sanders and Alexis Mack. Haley Cruise added a birthday present with a double with the Ducks 9th hit of the game. Oregon had 10 runs and 9 hits through three innings.
The Ducks added another run in the bottom of the fourth. Jenna Lilley had an RBI single scoring Lauren Burke.
The Oregon Ducks put up 11 runs in a run-rule win over Kentucky for their fifth trip to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series in seven years. Oregon meets fellow Pac-12 foe Arizona State on Thursday(9 am PT, ESPN) in the Women’s College World Series.