Moore Blanks No. 9 Wildcats 2-0

Friday, April 29

Tucson, Ariz.

7:00 PM

University of Oregon

34-11, 6-7

Arizona

36-12, 7-6

OREGON

Arizona

04/30/11 | Softball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

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

TUCSON, Ariz. - Sophomore Jessica Moore (18-6) quieted another of the nation's top hitting teams with her 2-0 win over No. 9 Arizona Friday night in the opener of the three-game series.

On the mound for No. 16 Oregon (34-11, 6-7), Moore moved into a tie for eighth all-time for wins in a season, thanks to her four-hitter that included four strikeouts.

The fourth shutout of the season for the Sutter, Calif., native also raised her career total to nine and moved her into a tie for ninth all-time with former Duck great Jennie Cook.

Seniors Monique Fuiava and Kaitlin Vitek accounted for UO's RBI's, while sophomore Samantha Pappas (2-for-4) and freshman Courtney Ceo (1-for-3) combined for Oregon's three hits. The latter duo also extended their current team-best hitting streaks to seven games - both personal season highs.

The two teams were scoreless for the first six innings until the seventh when Ceo and sophomore Kaylan Howard opened the inning with a walk and hit by pitch. Pappas laid down a bunt single to load the bases, and Fuiava collected her team-leading ninth game-winning RBI of the season with a walk on a 3-2 pitch.

The next batter, Vitek, added a sacrifice fly to the right fielder in foul territory for the visitors' final run.

The Ducks posted a win against the eight-time national champions for the fourth straight season for the first time in school history, after Moore and Samantha Skillingstad posted wins in 2010 and '09, respectively, in Eugene.

Oregon's previous win in Tucson dated back to '08 thanks to Alicia Cook, while UO had won twice on the Cats' turf before with its pair of wins in 1989.

UA freshman starting pitcher Shelby Babcock (15-5) also went seven innings, struck out five, walked nine, allowed three hits, and both of her runs allowed were earned.

At the plate for the returning national runners-up, four different players hit safely once, and four also reached base via walks.

Shut out for the fifth time this year, the Wildcats stranded at least one runner each inning, and two in the fourth. A walk and single put runners on first and second with one out, but Moore forced a pair of infield ground-outs to end the inning.

Friday's win marked the Ducks' fourth win against a top-10 opponent this season and seventh against a top-25 foe.

Oregon also enjoyed its fourth straight win after sweeping Oregon State last weekend, while UA (36-12, 7-6) is on a four-game skid after it was swept by then-No. 2 Arizona State last weekend.

Looking ahead, the two teams meet again Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at Hillenbrand Stadium, while Sunday's finale is set for a noon start.

LINESCORE

#16 OREGON 2, #9 Arizona 0 (Apr 29, 2011 at Tucson, Ariz.)
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#16 OREGON.......... 000 000 2 - 2 3 0 (34-11, 6-7 Pac 10)
#9 Arizona.......... 000 000 0 - 0 4 1 (36-12, 7-6 Pac 10)
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Pitchers: OREGON - Moore, Jessica and Peterson, Alexa . Arizona - Babcock and Chambers. Win-Moore, Jessica (18-6) Loss-Babcock(15-5) T-1:23 A-2354. Weather: 82 degrees, windy.