Sunday, February 15
Las Vegas, Nev.
9:00 AM
University of Oregon
5-5
14
at
0
Southern Mississippi
4-6
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Southern Mississippi
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
6
OREGON
3
4
3
4
X
14
11
0
Ducks Soar Past Eagles, 14-0
02/15/09 | Softball
* A boxscore and tourney stats are located in the links box to the right.
* A boxscore and tourney stats are located in the links box to the right, and a more detailed recap will be posted shortly.
LAS VEGAS - The University of Oregon softball team (5-5) ignited offensively Sunday for a five-inning, 14-0 win over Southern Mississippi to cap the Louisville Slugger Classic with it second straight win.
The Ducks collaborated on 11 hits, including sophomore designated player Monique Fuiava's fourth homer of the tournament and sixth of the season.
Among other offensive heroes, junior center fielder Neena Bryant went 3-for-3 with 4 RBIs and one run, and six other starters also hit safely - senior shortstop Sari-Jane Jenkins (1-for-2, 3 runs), sophomore catcher Kaitlin Vitek (1-for-2), freshman right fielder Kelsey Chambers (1-for-2, 2 RBI), junior first baseman Carlyn Re (1-for-3, 1 run), freshman third baseman Lindsey Chambers (1-for-1, 2 runs, 2 walks) and redshirt junior left fielder Shelley Deadmond (1-for-1).
In its highest run tally of its 10 games so far in ?09, UO scored at least three runs in all four of its innings at-bat, including three in the first and third innings, and four in the second and fourth innings.
With UO's profiency at the plate, 13 different players batted Sunday, including freshman catcher Jordan Reeves who walked in her first collegiate at-bat as a pinch-hitter. Junior second baseman Hannah Barril also garnered her first hit of the campaign off a pinch-hit bunt single, and Lindsey Chambers' double marked her first collegiate hit.
In Oregon's first shutout of the season, freshman starting pitcher Samantha Skillingstad struck out three, walked none and allowed three hits in her four innings. Fellow frosh Mikayla Endicott pitched the final inning and struck out two, walked none and allowed no hits in her third appearance of the season.
In the first inning, Fuiava stroked her 13th career homer to right field and scored Jenkins and Bryant who had reached via an error and single. In the second inning, Bryant had a sacrifice fly RBI that scored Lindsey Chambers who doubled to lead off the inning, and two more runs came in on Kelsey Chambers' double to left field. In the third inning after the opening batters reached via a walk and two hit by pitches, Bryant had an RBI single, Jenkins scored on a throwing error by the third baseman, and Williamson crossed the plate on a wild pitch. In the fourth inning, Barril got an RBI on a bunt single, and another run scored on a throwing error by the pitcher. Bryant followed with a triple that scored Barril and Reeves.
Overall this weekend, UO went 2-3 in at the UNLV-hosted tourney at Stephanie Lynn Craig Field, and in earlier action, lost Friday to Cal State Fullerton, 6-5, and Kentucky, 11-9; and split on Saturday with a 5-2 loss to No. 11 Northwestern and a 3-2 win over returning NCAA qualifier Hawai'i.
With two starts at both catcher and third base, Vitek paced the Ducks at the plate in hitting (.455) and doubles (3), and knocked in her first career RBI vs. Kentucky. Bryant also topped .400 in Sin City (.438, 7-for-16, 1 triple, 1 home run, 7 RBI), and six others topped .300 on the weekend - Kelsey Chambers (.385, 5-for-13, 3 doubles, 1 home run, 6 RBI, 3 runs), Fuiava (.353, 6-for-17, 1 double, 4 home runs, 7 RBI, 1.118 slugging), Jenkins (.333, 6-for-18, 2 doubles), Barril (.333, 1-for-3, 1 RBI), Re (.313, 5-for-16, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, 1 run) and Cortney Kivett (.308, 4-for-13).
Bryant's explosive weekend helped her climb the Duck career charts in RBIs (was 10th, now eighth, 101) and home runs (now 10th, 21), and she is only five away from the seventh-best stolen bases mark with her eight-best tally of 47 swipes. Career stolen bases leader Jenkins added another to her tally (82), and moved to sixth in hits all-time for UO (199). The Salem, Ore., native is one away from climbing a spot in career doubles (10th is 30) and career runs (currently eighth, 119; fifth is 120) and five away in the career walks category (10th is 63). Cortney Kivett's two steals gives her 37 in her career and moved her into a tie for 9th.
On the mound in Vegas, Skillingstad claimed both of UO's wins and went 2-0, and struck out 18 in 18 innings, allowed 12 hits, walked five, and five of her six runs allowed were earned. Endicott made two appearances, and struck out four in her four innings, walked one, and one of her two runs allowed were earned.
Among other weekend highlights, Kelsey Chambers socked her first collegiate homer vs. Hawai'i Saturday night, then rounded the bases later in the game after an errant throw after a double to deep right field. The night before, UO came back from a 9-0 deficit to fall 11-9 to the Wildcats late Friday night, and narrowly lost to the returning NCAA tourney qualifier CS Fullerton to open the tourney in a game that featured nine lead changes.
Looking ahead, UO faces many of the nation's top teams in the Cathedral City Classic near Palm Springs. Oregon opens against No. 23 North Carolina and No. 1 Alabama, Thursday, February 19 at 1 and 6 p.m., then faces Texas, Friday, Feb. 20 at 3 p.m., and Georgia Tech and Nebraska on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 1 and 3:30 p.m. More tourney information is located at the tourney host Oregon State's www.OSUbeavers.com athletic department website.
PLAYER QUOTES
Monique Fuiava
“I feel more composed at the plate this year. Last year as a freshman, I was a little more nervous, especially at this tournament and playing at home in front of a lot of people I knew. In reality I've learned to follow what Sari said and look at it as just another game ? and it actually feels like that this year. Coming into this year, Coach said it was up to me to choose where I wanted to bat in the line-up based on my performance. At the same time, it doesn't matter that much because there will be runners on at most any spot because of depth. ... I was happy with my performance on Friday, more-so than yesterday or today when I struck out a couple times. I was probably a little more composed last week, while I occasionally felt a little more antsy this week. I need to continue to stay relaxed and let good things happen. ... It was great to see Kaitlin step up. Since we're both sophomores and roommates, it's nice that when we get home we can all share our own personal accounts in the wins. ... Last week the team seemed a little hesitant, but we were more calm and confident this week, both defensively and offensively. We took a lot of positives strides defensively. Earlier in the season we were shaky defensively, and now we're starting to get more chemistry together.”
Samantha Skillingstad
“(After two weeks of games) I'm transitioning to the college game OK, with my main focus on adjusting to the higher level of hitters we face compared to high school. The team won twice (this weekend), and that's good, but I need to raise my level, especially since we play some great teams soon. ... Today, I felt better about my performance (compared to earlier this weekend). I worked on my mechanics a little as the game went on and worked some things out. I was also better at mixing my pitches and location. ... (About working with both catchers, Ashley Kivett and Kaitlin Vitek) Having the two helped me work on different things. Each calls slightly different games to help me develop certain things. Among their respective strengths, Kaitlin's great at keeping great pitching charts and is astute at avoiding patterns, and Ashley is very vocal and good at keeping me specific on a pitch and moves around really well. ... It was fun to watch Mikayla (Endicott) pitch really well, while it was also great to watch the team crush the ball. ... Our performances yesterday and today gives us some good momentum going into Palm Springs, especially with how our offense is doing, while our chemistry on the field is also coming along.”
Kaitlin Vitek
“I was glad I could step up and help the team this weekend. ... (Against Kentucky) we needed something good to get us going. When one of our players succeeds it carries over to everyone. The homer didn't feel like I hit it that hard ? I just tried to have a good easy swing. The next thing the crowd was screaming. It was an awesome feeling rounding the bases, and it got the team pumped. At bat this weekend, I was able to work to the pitchers and got the locations I wanted, and then just release my hands. ... (About her comfort level at the plate) This summer, I worked on a lot of my mental game, and it has helped me approach the game better. I try to show more confidence at the plate, know what I'm looking for, and feel that I can beat any pitcher. (About her confidence carrying over from the plate to the field...) If you're doing well at one it definitely translates to the other. (Defensively, about playing two games each at 3B and catcher) I had played both in high school, one in travel ball and the other for my high school team, so I feel equally comfortable at both. ... (About Samantha Skillingstad's pitching performance) “She was stunning. She had a great mix and great control. Even the other team's small hits didn't phase her - she had great composure. “
- www.GoDucks.com -
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Skillingstad, Samantha (5-1)
L: RAMOS, Courtney (4-2)
Base Running:
SB: MATTHEWS, Casey Jo 1
Batting:
2B: Vitek, Kaitlin 1 ; Chambers, Kelsey 1 ; Chambers, Lindsey 1
3B: Bryant, Neena 1
HR: Fuiava, Monique 1
RBI: Barril, Hannah 1 ; Bryant, Neena 4 ; Fuiava, Monique 2 ; Chambers, Kelsey 2
SH: Kivett, Cortney 1
SF: Bryant, Neena 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jenkins, Sari-Jane 3 ; Reeves, Jordan 1 ; Kivett, Cortney 1 ; Barril, Hannah 1 ; Bryant, Neena 1 ; Fuiava, Monique 2 ; Re, Carlyn 1 ; Chambers, Lindsey 2 ; Deadmond, Shelley 1 ; Williamson, Blair 1
SB: Bryant, Neena 1
HBP: Jenkins, Sari-Jane 1 ; Vitek, Kaitlin 1 ; Williamson, Blair 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
4
AB
2
R
3
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
UT
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball1B
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
2B
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
IF
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