Lyndsey Grein ptiched a 3-hit shutout as Oregon won their opener in the Eugene Regional, an 8-0 run-rule victory over Weber State.
She had the riseball working in Jane Sanders Park, striking out two in the first inning. After an infield single put a Wildcat aboard she got the third out with a grounder to third, Katie Flannery playing in tight and scooping the ball up on one bounce.
Rylee McCoy bombed a two-out homer on the first pitch she saw in the first inning, the freshman's 18th of the year. That gave Oregon a 1-0 lead to start. Kedre Luschar drilled a ball to centerfield, but the line drive stayed up, caught for the third out of the inning.
Pitching with a one-run lead, Grein got the lead off hitter with a low changeup, then quickly ahead of Emma Bingham 0-2 and put her away after one foul ball, four strikeouts already, 27 strikes versus 10 balls. She then struck out Richardson looking to retire the side, a masterful start.
The Ducks went down in the second 1-2-3. Grein went back to work, starting the third with another K, swinging. Jordan McMahon slapped a single through the hole, one on with one out.
Riley Whelan struck out for the second time, already Grein's seventh of the game, the senior transfer from Virginia Tech absolutely locked in after some uncharacteristic struggles at the end of the season.
In the third Kai Luschar walked and stole second, a school record 103rd for her career.
Grein pitched a 1-2-3 fourth, two fly outs and a ground out.
McCoy walked to lead off the Oregon fourth. Kedre Luschar lined a single past the shortstop to put two aboard, no out. With one out, Stefini Ma'ake crushed a low liner straight up the middle all the way to the wall to score McCoy and Luschar for a 3-0 lead.
Dez Patmon smashed a ball over the left field wall, a two-run homer, Ducks ahead 5-0. A single and two errors loaded the bases again but a bouncer to short ended the inning.
Grein got the leadoff hitter on a popout but Richardson doubled to right center. She lost the next batter on four pitches. She got back in her groove, striking out the slap hitter McMahon for eighth of the game.
Grein tacked on two more, striking out McMahon and Solis to complete her shutout.
The Ducks closed it out in their half of the fifth, putting up three more runs for a run-rule victory. Kedre Luschar stole home on a double steal for one run, Patmon drilled a double to right center to score Lawton, then Kai Luschar beat out a grounder to short to score Patmon. Speed kills.
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