Ducks Top Pacific, 10-0

Sunday, February 24

Palm Springs, Calif.

1 p.m.

University of Oregon

9-7

Pacific

5-9

Oregon

Pacific

02/24/08 | Softball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

* A boxscore and play-by-play is located in the LINKS box to the right.

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. ? The University of Oregon softball team wrapped up the Cathedral City Classic with a 10-0, five-inning win over Pacific Sunday at Pawtucket Field at the Big League Dreams Sports Park.

UO's third straight victory raised its season record to 9-7 and was the 192nd in sixth-year head coach Kathy Arendsen's tenure in Eugene and tied her for the most in school history with Teresa Wilson. Arendsen's career winning percentage (.615 192-120) is also a school record, ahead of Wilson's mark (.548, 192-172) from her four seasons from 1986-89.

Sunday's win gave UO a 4-2 mark in the tourney, and was also its third, 10-run rule, game-shortened win of the season.

Senior right-hander Alicia Cook (4-4) staked her second shutout in as many days and allowed only two hits in her five innings of work, struck out six and walked two.

“I'm feeling stronger and stronger as the tourneys go on,” Cook said, “and wanted to support the team like they have be in the field and on the plate. The win vs. Oklahoma yesterday was something that gave us all a real boost because we knew we could beat a top-10 ranked team, and that we can be there, too, if the teams can came together.”

The Ducks got out to a 6-0 lead in the top half of the first inning with all of their runs with two outs, then added another run in the fourth inning and three in the top half of the sixth.

In the first inning, after second hitter freshman second baseman Cortney Kivett bunted for a single, senior shortstop Lovena Chaput and freshman first baseman Monique Fuiava walked to load the bases with two outs. Senior right fielder Kayleen Hudson was hit by a pitch to score the first run, and senior third baseman Joanna Gail followed with a 2 RBI double down the right field line, and a third runner scored on a bad throw from the right fielder that skipped past the first baseman. Sophomore first baseman Carlyn Re walked, then freshman catcher Ashley Kivett followed with a single to right field that scored another run, and Re scored on a delayed steal after Kivett stole second base.

UO added another run in the fourth inning when Jenkins reached on an error by the first baseman and advanced to second base. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt then scored on a groundout to second base.

In the top of the fifth UO loaded the bases with no outs when Fuiava singled over the shortstop's head, Hudson followed with a sacrifice bunt fielder's choice that she reached first on, and Gailed followed with another single looped over the pitcher that died in the infield. A high inside wild pitch to batter Carlyn Re advanced the runners and brought a run home, and she then walked to re-load the bases. Ashley Kivett, a native of nearby Yucaipia, Calif., followed with a 2-2 single to center field.

Pacific threatened to score in the bottom of the fifth inning when it had two runners on with no outs, but the cleanup hitter Alyce Jorgensen lined a shot to Joanna Gail who caught and threw to first base for a double play, and Cook then struck out the Tigers' fifth hitter on three straight pitches.

“We wanted to come out and try to make a statement offensively from the start,“Gail said. “We were starting to get some momentum and we wanted to keep it going, both offensively and defensively. I'm getting my rhythm back in the field particularly, and the credit goes to my teammates who have been so supportive and vocally reassuring me that they believe in me.”

Overall Sunday, seven Duck hitters laced hits ? Joanna Gail (2-3, 2 RBI), Ashley Kivett (2-3, 3 RBI), Sari-Jane Jenkins (1-3, walk), Cortney Kviett (1-3), Monique Fuiava (1-1, 2 walks).

For the tournament, Fuiava led the Ducks in hitting (5-15, 3 walks) and hit a homer, the only run in UO's 1-0 win over Oklahoma Saturday. Gail also topped .300 (.313, 5-16, 1 double, 4 RBI) and was followed by the Kivett twins Cortney (.278, 5-18, 1 walk, 2 stolen bases) and Ashley (.250, 3-12, 1 stolen base).

“I was a little nervous the first weekend or two, but I'm settling in,” Fuiava. ”I'm fairly used to this level of pitching from club ball, it was more just being a freshman in a new place. I really enjoy the team, and being able to play a key part right off the bat is exciting.”

For Pacific (5-9), starter Chelsea Engle (3-4) pitched four innings, struck out four, walked five, gave up six hits and nine of her 10 runs allowed were earned. Reliever Heidi Helberg came in during the fifth inning and got all three outs, walked, one, struck out one, and gave up no hits.

Earlier in the tournament, the Ducks won both of their games Saturday as Cook pitched a 1-0 shutout over No. 6 Oklahoma, a returning NCAA Super Regional qualifier, and Brittany Rumfelt raised her record to 4-0 with a 3-1 win over Michigan State, with Cook adding a save vs. the Spartans. On Friday, the Ducks went 1-1 with a 2-1 win over another NCAA veteran in Long Island, and lost 7-0 to Northwestern. UO opened the tourney Friday night with an 8-4 loss to No. 10 Baylor. Both of UO's losses in the tourney came to College World Series teams from last year.

Looking ahead, the Ducks travel to San Diego next week and play San Diego on Thursday, February 28, then have five games in the San Diego Classic. UO faces Fresno State and Harvard, Friday, February 29 at 9 and 11:30 a.m., respectively. On Saturday, March 1, the Ducks face Cal State Bakersfield at 7 p.m., then return to play James Madison and San Diego State at 9 and 11:30 a.m., respectively.

The Ducks' home opener vs. Portland State at Howe Field follows soon after on Wednesday, March 5 at 2:30 p.m.

LINESCORE

Oregon 10, Pacific 0 (Feb 24, 2008 at Cathedral City,Calif)
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Oregon.............. 600 13 - 10 6 0 (9-7)
Pacific............. 000 00 - 0 2 3 (5-9)
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Pitchers: Oregon - Cook, Alicia. Pacific - Engle, Chelsea; Helberg, Heidi(5).
Win-Cook, Alicia(4-5) Loss-Engle, Chelsea(3-4) T-1:27 A-170
Engle faced 5 batters in the 5th.
Game: OREPAC

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