Oregon Blows by UNLV, 7-1

Saturday, March 8

Las Vegas, NV

1:30 p.m.

University of Oregon

16-11

UNLV

15-11

Oregon

UNLV

03/08/08 | Softball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

LAS VEGAS ? The winds of fate smiled on the Ducks, literally, as the Oregon softball team staked its second win Saturday with a 7-1 win over UNLV in the second day of the UNLV Invitational at Eller Media Stadium.

Before the winds picked up to gusts in the 20-30 mph range, Oregon (16-11) had already scored three runs in both the third and fourth innings, to give plenty of ammunition behind junior starter Melissa Rice (6-4). The Colville, Wash., native pitched her fifth complete game of the season and struck out six, walked three, and her only run allowed was earned.

UO got on the scoreboard in the third inning when Kivett singled to open the inning, stole second and scored after sophomore center fielder Neena Bryant singled. Bryant followed her across the plate two batters later on a bunt single by freshman first baseman Monique Fuiava. The Ducks' other run came on a wild pitch three batters later with the bases loaded.

The Ducks added another a three spot the next inning when Kivett reached on a fielder's choice bunt, stole second and scored on another Bryant single. Chaput, Fuiava, Gail and Hudson followed with consecutive walks to force in two more runs ? the first three base on balls by starter Heather Sletvett and the last by reliever Traci Odegard.

UNLV threatened to take the lead in the first inning when it had runners on first and second with only one out after a pair of walks, but Rice retired the Rebels on a groundout and strikeout. Their lone run came in the third inning when second baseman Ashli Holland led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a groundout to shortstop.

UO's Cortney Kivett extended her hitting streak to 14 games and finished with a game-high three hits (3-of-5), and had two runs. Two others had multiple hit afternoons, Bryant (2-of-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI) and Chaput (2-of-4, 2 runs, 2 walks).

On defense, Kivett also boosted the team in the top of the sixth when an opening hit was erased when she started a double play, then charged in to make a 4-3 play the next at-bat to end the inning.

Overall, seven Ducks ended with hits, including freshman pinch hitter Kaitlin Vitek who led off the seventh inning with her first collegiate hit.

Earlier in the day, the Ducks beat Southern Utah for the second straight day, this time 4-2. Monique Fuiava boomed a pinch hit home run over the 195-foot left field wall, and Neena Bryant had a pair of RBI singles. Senior starting pitcher Alicia Cook finished with six strikeouts and one walk in her ninth complete game of the season and raised her record to 6-7.

So far during the first four games of the tourney, Kivett is 9-for-16 (.563) at the plate with three runs, and two others are over .500 in the same stretch ? hometown product Fuiava (5-for-9, 1 homer, 2 RBI) and Bryant (5-for-9, 1 homer, 5 RBI).

Looking ahead, the Ducks return for their final game of the tournament against New Mexico State, Sunday at 9 a.m. Live stats for the game will be available via the Duck softball schedule by clicking on the page icon in the media column on the www.GoDucks.com softball schedule.

LINE SCORE

Oregon 7, UNLV 1 (Mar 08, 2008 at Las Vegas, Nev.)
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Oregon.............. 003 301 0 - 7 11 1 (16-11)
UNLV................ 001 000 0 - 1 2 0 (15-11)
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Pitchers: Oregon - Rice, Melissa. UNLV - SLETTVET, Heather; ODEGARD, Traci(4).
Win-Rice, Melissa(6-4) Loss-SLETTVET, Heather(1-2) T-2:20 A-185
Weather: 76, sunny, wind 0-3 mph