Ducks Down Aggies, 3-0, in 8 Innings

Sunday, March 1

San Diego, Calif.

11:30 AM

University of Oregon

8-12

UC Davis

10-4

OREGON

UC Davis

03/01/09 | Softball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

* A boxscore, play-by-play and tourney stats are located in the LINKS box to the right.

SAN DIEGO - In dramatic fashion, the University of Oregon softball team (8-12) scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to beat UC Davis, 3-0, in Sunday's San Diego Classic finale.

Freshman Mikayla Endicott (2-2) pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, struck out four and got her second win of the day and her career. Fellow frosh Samantha Skillingstad started the game and pitched the first 5 2/3 innings, struck out six, walked one, allowed no runs and five hits.

At the plate, sophomore catcher Kaitlin Vitek went 3-for-3, and was credited with the game-winning RBI on a base-loaded hit by pitch in the top of the eighth inning.

Sophomore designated player Monique Fuiava opened the eighth with a walk after going down 0-2 in the count, advanced on singles by freshman right field Kelsey Chambers and sophomore second baseman Cortney Kivett, then scored UO's first run on Vitek's HBP. Freshman third baseman Lindsey Chambers followed with an RBI hard single up the middle. Two batters later, Bryant added UO's final RBI on a single to the shortstop on a 1-2 pitch.

Overall at the plate for UO, six Ducks hit safely - Vitek (3-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI), Bryant (2-for-4, 1 RBI), junior left fielder Blair Williamson (2-for-4), Kelsey Chambers (1-for-4, 1 run), Lindsey Chambers (1-for-3, 1 RBI) and sophomore second baseman Cortney Kivett (1-for-4). Williams and senior Sari-Jane Jenkins each had a stolen base, with Jenkins upping her school record tally to 87.

The Roseburg, Ore., native Endicott was called upon in the bottom of the sixth inning with runners on first and second, and struck out UCD's sixth hitter in the line-up, shortstop Kelly Harman, on an eight-pitch at-bat.

The inning before, the Aggies left two runners stranded in the fifth after a walk and single with one out. Skillingstad responded with a pair of strikeouts. The Aggies also had runners on second and third in the first inning after a single and double, but Skillingstad forced an inning-ending foul pop-up to third base.

Going back to the second weekend of the season, Endicott has now allowed only one earned run in her last 24 2/3 innings and seven appearances (including games vs. returning Super Regional qualifier Alabama and fellow NCAA veteran Texas) and has struck out 27 batters in that span and walked only five.

For UC Davis, starter Alex Holmes pitched all eight innings, struck out four, walked two, allowed 10 hits, and all three of her runs allowed were earned.

Immediately before the Davis victory, UO also shutout Utah, 2-0, behind Endicott's complete game in which she struck out a career-high nine, walked one and allowed four hits. At the plate for UO, Fuiava belted her seventh home of the season over the left field bleachers in the third inning, and Bryant scored the game winner in the first inning after an errant throw to first base on bunt by Fuiava.

For the tourney, four Ducks topped .300 - sophomore infielder Ashley Kivett (4-for-8, 1 triple, 5 RBI), Bryant (.421, 8-for-19, 2 runs, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 2 stolen bases), sophomore pitcher Brittany Rumfelt (.333, 1-for-3, 1 RBI) and Vitek (3-for-10, 1 double, 1 RBI, 3 walks). On the mound over the five games, Endicott did not allow a run in her 16 1/3 innings, and went 2-1, had two complete games, one shutout, 19 strikeouts and only two walks, and allowed 11 hits and only one unearned run. Skillingstad had a 1.75 ERA in her 12 innings, struck out 16, walked five, gave up 14 hits and three of her runs allowed were earned.

Earlier in the tournament, Endicott logged her first complete game Saturday in a 1-0 loss to Colorado State, with the Rams' lone run unearned, while Oregon fell on Friday to No. 12 Missouri, 8-7, in 9 innings, and immediately after to host San Diego State, 5-4.

Looking ahead, UO travels next weekend to the Wolfpack Classic in Reno, Nevada, and faces Southern Utah and Nevada Friday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and the same teams again Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. Nevada was an NCAA tournament qualifier last season and has spent most of this season ranked top 20 nationally, while Southern Utah advanced to the postseason in 2007.

LINESCORES

OREGON 3, UC Davis 0 (Mar 01, 2009 at San Diego, Calif.)
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OREGON.............. 000 000 03 - 3 10 0      (8-12)
UC Davis............ 000 000 00 - 0 5 1      (10-4)
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Pitchers: OREGON - Skillingstad, Sam; Endicott, Mikayla(6). UC Davis - Holmes, Alex.
Win-Endicott, Mikayla(2-2) Loss-Holmes, Alex(4-3) T-2:07 A-165
Weather: 85, sunny, wind, 2-6 mph

Oregon 2, Utah 0 (Mar 01, 2009 at San Diego, Calif.)
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Utah................ 000 000 0 - 0 5 1      (8-12)
Oregon.............. 101 000 X - 2 5 0      (7-11)
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Pitchers: Utah - PARKER; PALMER(4). Oregon - Endicott, Mikayla.
Win-Endicott, Mikayla(1-2) Loss-PARKER(0-2) T-1:31 A-96
HR ORE - Fuiava, Monique (7).
Weather: 74 degrees, clear skies

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