Utah Valley shocks 1-seed Oregon in PK slugfest
At the Eugene Regional in PK Park Oregon lost 6-5 to WAC Champion and 4-seed Utah Valley. They'll play Cal Poly at noon Saturday for the right to stay in the double elimination tournament.
The game came down to a controversial play at the plate. Anson Aroz tagged up on a fly ball. The throw skipped off catcher Mason Strong's glove. Strong blocked the plate without the ball and the two collided.
The home plate umpire called him safe, good for a tie game and a runner at second. Utah Valley challenged the call, saying that Aroz committed "malicious contact" and should be ruled out.
After a nearly eight-minute review they reversed it. Run taken off the board, Aroz out and ejected from the game, two away. The air went out of the Oregon rally, down 6-5.
Jason Reitz started for the Ducks and pitched six innings, striking out 14. Drew Smith and Aroz homered in the third to get them back within one 4-3, Smith with three RBI on the night.
Softball stays alive with walk-off walk in 10th
Oregon edged Ole Miss 6-5 at the Softball College World Series in Oklahoma City when Kedre Luschar drew a bases-loaded walk in the 10th inning.
The Ducks led 5-2 before the Rebels struck for three runs in the 7th inning, the game scoreless through the 8th, 9th, and the Mississippi 10th.
In the bottom of the 10th Emma Cox led off with an infield single. Katie Flannery laid down a sacrifice bunt but the throw was wild, runners advancing to second and third.
With one out in the 10th Kai Luschar hit an infield single to load the bases. Kedre Luschar took a pitch low and away to force home pinch runner Aliyah Binford with the winning run.
Starter Lyndsey Grein reentered the game with two out and one on in the 6th, holding the Rebels scoreless in the 8th, 9th and 10th innings as she pitched out of multiple jams.
The Ducks are off until Sunday at OKC when they'll play the loser of Oklahoma-Texas at 4 p.m. televised on ESPN2.
Romero makes the cut at U.S. Open
At the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills Golf Course in Erin, Wisconsin, Oregon ace Kiara Romero shot even-par 72 in Round two to make the weekend at one-over, tied for 44th, nine shots behind leader Mao Saigo of Japan.
Ducks golf coach and Big Ten Coach of the Year Derek Radley is serving as her caddy. Romero made a birdie on the par-5 18th to make the weekend field.