No. 3 Sun Devils Power Past Ducks Late, 2-0

Friday, April 8

Eugene, Ore.

6:00 PM

University of Oregon

29-7, 1-3

Arizona State

36-3, 3-1

Arizona State

OREGON

04/09/11 | Softball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

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

EUGENE - After holding the nation's top hitting team scoreless through six innings, the No. 15 University of Oregon softball team (29-7, 1-3) dropped its Pac-10 home series to opener to No. 3 Arizona State (36-3, 3-1) after giving up a two-run seventh-inning home run.

ASU entered the game averaging 8.76 runs a game, but sophomore pitcher Jessica Moore (14-4) limited the Sun Devils to two hits in the first six innings – a hard-hopper that bounced off the third baseman and a grounder to deep shortstop.

In the seventh inning, however, ASU's Katelyn Boyd unknotted the score when she sent a 1-0 pitch over the right center field wall. Her team-leading 12th homer of the season also scored the prior batter, pinch-hitter Christina Zambrana, who had reached via an 0-2 hit by pitch.

Sun Devil freshman Dallas Escobedo (18-2) was equally sharp on the opposing mound, and held UO hitless for the first five innings. Freshman Courtney Ceo foiled the potential no-hitter with a single to shortstop with two outs in the sixth inning - her team-best 26th game that she's hit safely.

UO also put runners on via one-out, hit by pitches of freshman Kailee Cuico and senior Monique Fuiava in the fifth and seventh innings, but both runners were stranded at first base.

In her eighth complete game of the season, Moore ended with five strikeouts and four walks, while Escobedo struck out seven Ducks, walked none and allowed only one hit.

Boyd also walked twice Friday and validated her reputation as one of the nation's leading hitters. The junior from Phoenix entered the weekend as the national leader in runs per game (1.39) and top 20 in on-base percentage (11th, 0.580), batting (13th, .467) and home runs (13th, 11).
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ASU appeared ready to score after putting a pair of runners on in both the fourth and fifth innings, including on third base each time. However, Moore responded by getting grounders to third base for the final out each time.

Looking ahead, the second game of the three-game series is set for a 3 p.m. start Saturday.

Ticket-wise, Saturday's contest is a BI-MART Family Day, and fans that show their Bi-Mart card at the Howe Field ticket window will receive a family rate of $10 for two adults and unlimited number of kids. A ticket from the Duck baseball game vs. Washington Friday will also work for free admission into Saturday's softball game.

LINESCORE

#3 Arizona State 2, #15 OREGON 0 (Apr 08, 2011 at Eugene, Ore.)
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#3 Arizona State.... 000 000 2 - 2 3 1 (36-3, 3-1 Pac-10)
#15 OREGON.......... 000 000 0 - 0 1 2 (29-7, 1-3 Pac-10)
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Pitchers: Arizona State - Escobedo and . OREGON - Moore, Jessica and . Win-Escobedo(18-2) Loss- Moore, Jessica (14-4) T-1:52 A-187 HR ASU - Boyd. Weather: 59, sunny, wind 2-5 mph.

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