University of Oregon
26-3, 6-0
Utah
20-12, 0-6
Hawkins Tosses Shutout, Ducks Sweep Utah
03/23/15 | Softball
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The No. 2 ranked Oregon softball team used a six-run fourth inning and a five-run seventh to put away Utah and sweep the series with a 12-0 win on Monday afternoon. Cheridan Hawkins picked up the shutout and the win after allowing just two hits.
The Ducks improved to 26-3 (6-0 Pac-12) with the sweep while the Utes slipped to 20-12 (0-6).
Oregon has beaten Utah 16 straight times and the Ducks have swept their first two Pac-12 foes of the season.
Scoring Summary: Neither team scored until the Ducks put one run on the board in the third. After Jenna Lilley was hit by a pitch and Janelle Lindvall earned a two-out walk, Hailey Decker smacked a ball at the second baseman who misplayed it, allowing Lilley to score from second.
Oregon's big inning came in the fourth, as the Ducks scored six runs on just two hits. Janie Takeda drew a bases loaded walk to score the first run of the frame before Jenna Lilley did the same. After a strikeout, Decker crushed a two-run double off the wall in center to make it a 5-0 lead for the Ducks. Another walk loaded the bases for Koral Costa, who worked a full count walk to score another run. Danica Mercado, who started the inning with a walk, lofted a sacrifice fly to left to score the final run of the inning and give the Ducks a 7-0 lead. Oregon drew five walks in the fourth to go with two hits.
Oregon added five more runs in the seventh inning. Jamie Rae Sullivan smacked a pinch-hit single up the middle to score Lauren Lindvall from second. Later in the inning Sammie Puentes crushed a grand slam to make it a 12-0 lead for the Ducks.
In the Circle: Cheridan Hawkins continued her dominating ways and improved to 13-2 on the season. She struck out nine, giving up just two hits and a walk. The lefty threw 60 of her 85 pitches for strikes. Utah did not get a hit off Hawkins until the sixth inning before getting a second hit in the seventh.
Hawkins has not allowed an earned run in five appearances against Pac-12 opponents. She has five shutouts this season in 12 total starts.
Stat Sheet: Janie Takeda led the Ducks with two hits while Puentes had a team-high four RBIs on her grand slam. Alyssa Gillespie and Jenna Lilley each scored two runs.
Fun Fact: Sammie Puentes, a sophomore, has three career home runs – two are grand slams.
Up Next: Oregon returns home for a doubleheader against Utah Valley on Wednesday. First pitch is 4 p.m. A three-game home series with Washington follows on Friday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hawkins, Cheridan (13-2)
L: Viramontes (7-6)
Batting:
2B: Decker, Hailey 1
HR: Puentes, Sammie 1
RBI: Sullivan, Jamie Rae 1 ; Takeda, Janie 1 ; Lilley, Jenna 1 ; Decker, Hailey 2 ; Puentes, Sammie 4 ; Costa, Koral 1 ; Mercado, Danica 1
SF: Mercado, Danica 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gillespie, Alyssa 2 ; Takeda, Janie 1 ; Knapp, Stevie Jo 1 ; Lilley, Jenna 2 ; Lindvall, Janelle 1 ; Decker, Hailey 1 ; Puentes, Sammie 1 ; Mercado, Danica 1 ; Udria, Nikki 1 ; Lindvall, Lauren 1
SB: Takeda, Janie 2
HBP: Lilley, Jenna 1 ; Udria, Nikki 1
Batting:
2B: Flippen 1
SH: Woodard 1
