University of Oregon
16-3
Louisiana-Lafayette
18-2
#13 Ducks Rally Past Cajuns in 7th, 5-2
03/05/11 | Softball
ORLANDO, Fla. - The No. 13 University of Oregon softball team (16-3) won a battle between Super Regional returnees Saturday afternoon with its 5-2 comeback win over No. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette (17-2).
The Ducks scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to overcome a 2-1 deficit and stake its fourth win over a top-20 team this season and fifth against an NCAA veteran.
Senior Monique Fuiava started the seventh by beating out a grounder to third base, and was followed by a single to left field by junior Kelsey Chambers. After senior Kaitlin Vitek sacrifice bunted them to second and third, a walk to senior Christie Nieto loaded the bases.
Freshman Kailee Cuico knocked in the tying run on a fielder's choice to shortstop, and freshman Alexa Peterson followed with a single to left to score Chambers for her first game-winning RBI of the season. Freshman Courtney Ceo added a single the opposite way, and a fielding error by the left fielder allowed UO's final two runs to score.
In her fifth complete game of the season, freshman Jessica Moore (9-1) struck out six, walked one, and one of her two runs was earned.
Cajun starter Ashley Brignac (7-1), struck out four, walked one, allowed seven hits, and three of her five runs allowed were earned.
UO's first run came in the second inning via an opposite field home run by Vitek - her third of the season - and tied the game, 1-1.
Vitek also doubled in the fifth inning to cement her fourth multi-hit game of the season - third-most on the team this year.
ULL scored its first run in the first inning thanks to three straight hits with one out, while a second run was cut down at the plate on a delayed steal attempt home.
The Rajun Cajuns scored again in the third inning, after Katie Smith led off with a single, stole second base and advanced to scored on an error on a grounder to the shortstop.
Looking ahead, UO faces No. 1 Alabama immediately after. The Crimson Tide lost to the Cajuns, 1-0, Friday night, then won, 3-1, over Fordham Saturday afternoon after a two-run seventh-inning home run.
LINESCORE
#13 OREGON 5, #17 Louisiana-Lafayette 2 (Mar 05, 2011 at Orlando, Fla.)
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#13 OREGON.............. 010 000 4 - 5 7 3 (16-3)
#17 Louisiana-Lafayette. 101 000 0 - 2 5 2 (18-2)
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Pitchers: OREGON - Moore, Jessica and Peterson, Alexa. Louisiana-Lafayette - Brignac, Ashley and Draheim, Sarah. Win-Moore, Jessica(9-1) Loss-Brignac, Ashley(7-1) T-2:08 A-250. HR ORE - Vitek, Kaitlin. Weather: 64, partly cloudy, wind 1-4mph
- www.GoDucks.com -
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Moore, Jessica (9-1)
L: Brignac, Ashley (7-1)
Batting:
2B: Vitek, Kaitlin 1
HR: Vitek, Kaitlin 1
RBI: Vitek, Kaitlin 1 ; Cuico, Kailee 1 ; Peterson, Alexa 1
SH: Vitek, Kaitlin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kivett, Cortney 1 ; Chambers, Kelsey 1 ; Vitek, Kaitlin 1 ; Cuico, Kailee 1 ; Peterson, Alexa 1
CS: Ceo, Courtney 1
Batting:
2B: Bridges, Gabriele 1
RBI: Bridges, Gabriele 1
SH: Smith, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Murphy, Erikka 1 ; Smith, Katie 1
SB: Murphy, Erikka 2 ; Smith, Katie 1
CS: Bridges, Gabriele 1 ; Cherry, Briana 1
