EUGENE, Ore. – Early success at Howe Field is becoming a staple for 12th-ranked Oregon. Once again the Ducks took the lead and never looked back in 10-1, and 9-1 victories over Utah Valley State on Sunday.
Oregon improved to 34-3 and extended its winning streak to 13 games with just a doubleheader at Portland State on Wednesday, March 28, separating the Ducks from the start of Pac-10 Conference play.
Pac-10 kicks off at 3 p.m. on Fri., March 30, with Cal making its way to Howe Field.
Oregon is also an undefeated 10-0 at home this season and in those last 10 games, has outscored its opponents 86-3.
In the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Wolverines, the Ducks scored five runs in the first two innings. First, it was freshman Neena Bryant hitting her sixth home run of the season, a three-run blast over the right center wall.
Sophomore Sari-Jane Jenkins followed up with a two-out, two-run double to the right field wall in the second. It was her team-leading 10th double of the year.
Oregon took an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when a Utah Valley State fielding error with two outs on the scoreboard allowed Oregon's Amie Morris to cross the plate. Freshman Jenn Salling then took advantage, lining a two-run double into right fight field, scoring Jenkins and Suzie Barnes.
Utah Valley State added a run in the top of the fifth to keep the game alive when Lauren Augino scored from third on a passed ball.
But Morris made up for her defensive miscue lining a two-run, game-winning double into left in the bottom of the fifth.
Sophomore Melissa Rice earned the victory, pitching four innings and allowing just one hit. Rice had double-duty for the Ducks on the afternoon, starting the second game as well with junior Alicia Cook under the weather. Rice pitched six innings in game No. 2, allowing just one run on four hits. She improves to 17-2 on the year with a staff and conference-best 0.68 ERA.
In the second game, Oregon had a 3-1 lead entering the bottom of the fifth when Leiter hit her second double of the game to lead off the inning, eventually scoring from third on Courtney Shlee's bunt.
The three-run lead was doubled in later in the inning when Jenkins connected on a three-run, bases-loaded double to give the Ducks a 7-1 advantage. Salling brought home Jenkins with a single to right field, recording her team-leading 51st RBI of the year.
Once again the Ducks ended the game early by way of the eight-run rule in the bottom of the sixth when Shlee's RBI-double ended the game.
After traveling to Portland State for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Wednesday, the Ducks will open Pac-10 play on Friday at 3 p.m. hosting Cal. Oregon will close out the weekend hosting 10th-ranked Stanford on Saturday and Sunday, with both games set for a 1 p.m. start.
Quack Tracks: Jen Salling's 51 RBIs set a new single-season program record for Oregon, previously held by Katie Mackey, who had 47 in 1999…Suzie Barnes' 24 stolen bases ties for second in single-season history…Sari-Jane Jenkins trails in third with 23…Barnes' 45 runs this year fourth in single-season history…Ann Marie Topps needs just one more home run to tie the single season mark set (16) by Andrea Vidlund in 2003.
