No. 3 Sun Devils Down No. 15 Ducks, 10-5

Saturday, April 9

Eugene, Ore.

3:00 PM

University of Oregon

29-8, 1-4

Arizona State

37-3, 4-1

Arizona State

OREGON

04/10/11 | Softball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

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

EUGENE - The No. 15 University of Oregon softball team (29-8, 1-4) tied the season high for runs given up by Arizona State pitchers, but unfortunately the No. 3 Sun Devils still won Saturday's game by a 10-5 score.

ASU (37-3, 4-1) scored one run in the first and fifth innings, two in both the second and fourth, and four in the third to slightly better their 8.76 runs-per-game average that ranked second nationally this week.

After Sun Devil freshman Dallas Escobedo shutout UO in a one-hitter Friday, the Duck bats responded by claiming four runs and seven hits off her Saturday, and knocked her out with no outs in the fourth inning and the bases loaded.

Duck freshman Kailee Cuico knocked in UO's first three runs with her fourth homer of the season, a two-out shot over the left field wall in the first inning.

UO scored again in the fourth when after a pair of walks and single by Kaylan Howard loaded the bases, senior Kaitlin Vitek lined a pinch-hit RBI single to left field.

ASU reliever Mackenzie Popescue (10-1) came in after Vitek's single, and worked the final four innings to get the win. The redshirt freshman from Scottsdale, Ariz., struck out three, walked one, allowed four hits, and her run allowed was earned.

UO's final run came across in the sixth. Freshman Courtney Ceo led off with a bunt single, and after freshman Alexa Peterson reached on a hit by pitch, senior Monique Fuiava lined a single for her team-leading 33rd RBI of the season.

Duck starter Samantha Skillingstad (8-2) pitched the first 1.1 and final 3.1 innings. Combined in her two stints, she struck out four, walked none, allowed 10 hits, and three of her four runs allowed were earned.

Senior Brittany Rumfelt relieved her in the second inning, and struck out one, walked none, and yielded two hits and one earned run in her 0.2 innings.

Junior Mikayla Endicott followed her in the fourth inning, and in her 1.2 innings, struck out two, walked three, gave up four hits, and all five of her runs allowed were earned.

Team-wise, nine Ducks hit safely, and Fuiava (2-for-3) staked her ninth, multi-hit game this season - second-most on the team behind Ceo (15).

Only one other Sun Devil foe had scored five runs this year - Cal Poly the opening weekend in a 6-5 loss. ASU's three other ranked foes this season had all managed four runs or less - No. 19 Louisiana-Lafayette (4), No. 8 California (3, 2, 1) and No. 6 Michigan (0)

ASU ended with 16 hits - six more than the previous Duck opponent season high shared by Cal State Fullerton and Utah. Six Sun Devils logged multiple hits, and Kaylyn Castillo (3-for-5) led the visitors in the category.

Looking ahead, the two teams meet in the series finale Sunday at 11 a.m. at Howe Field.

Sunday's game is "Little League Day", and youth that wear their little league or ASA softball jersey to the game receive free admission. Fans can also pick up a voucher at the Howe Field ticket window to receive $5 off a reserved ticket for the baseball game Sunday afternoon at PK Park at 1 pm.

LINESCORE

#3 Arizona State 10, #15 OREGON 5 (Apr 09, 2011 at Eugene, Ore.)
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#3 Arizona State.... 124 210 0 - 10 16 0 (37-3, 4-1 Pac-10)
#15 OREGON.......... 300 101 0 - 5 11 2 (29-8, 1-4 Pac-10)
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Pitchers: Arizona State - Escobedo; Popescue(4) and Castillo. OREGON - Skillingstad, Sam; Rumfelt, Brittany (5); Endicott, Mikayla (6) and Peterson, Alexa . Win-Popescue(10-1) Loss-Skillingstad, Sam(8-2) T-2:40 A-499. HR ASU - Urfer. HR ORE - Cuico, Kailee . Weather: 54, cloudy, wind 0-3 mph. Rumfelt, B faced 1 batter in the 3rd. Escobedo faced 4 batters in the 4th.

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