Lori Sweet Gerig (2016) - Hall of Fame - University of Oregon Athletics

Lori Sweet Gerig

Induction:
2016
Class:
1980

One of Oregon’s most dominant pitchers not only of her era but of all time, Lori Sweet wasted little time packaging more highlights into a two-year span than many were able to do in a lifetime. Characterized as an unflappable steadying force who was the consummate team player, Sweet was thrust in the midst of a group of veteran returnees and never flinched. As a freshman pitcher/first baseman from Lebanon, Ore., the Ducks’ school record-holder paced the team in both hitting and pitching as she fueled the program to its best winning percentage within a 15-year span (.739) and its second-most successful campaign in more than three decades. In 1979, she led her team in hitting with a batting average of.368, while finishing second in hits (21) and runs scored (11). Yet it was her prowess as a pitcher that set her apart, posting a 12-4 record while fanning 57 in 119.2 innings, allowing opposing batters to hit only .142, and finishing with a 0.23 earned-run-average that remained unsurpassed in school history 37 years later. Included among her 17 appearances were six shutouts as well as back-to-back no hitters. The following year she finished with an ERA of 0.85 to complete her Oregon career with a 0.49 ERA that remained unchallenged in school history through her Hall-of-Fame induction. Despite the Ducks posting an 18-12 record that fell short of their ledger from her first collegiate season, they advanced to their second AIAW Women’s College World Series in school history.