University of Oregon
8-3
Central Arkansas
5-3
Ducks Dig the Long Ball in 19-3 win
02/21/16 | Softball
LAFAYETTE, La. – Oregon wrapped up its fifth and final game of the 30th Louisiana Classics with a 19-3 drubbing of Central Arkansas in five innings at Lamson Park, finishing its longest non-conference road trip of the season with a mark of 3-2.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The No. 6 Ducks (8-3) fell behind 1-0 in the first inning before reeling off the next 13 runs of the game, which included an 11-spot in the top of the third. Koral Costa and Jenna Lilley each homered in the third, and April Utecht and Stevie Jo Knapp went deep in the fourth to power UO to its most lopsided victory of the season. Freshman righthander Megan Kleist (4-1) allowed five hits and one earned run, striking out four over three innings to earn her team-high fourth victory of the season.
WHAT IT MEANS: Oregon salvaged a winning road trip with consecutive wins over Central Arkansas (5-3) after dropping 2 of 3 to host No. 7 Louisiana. The Ducks outhit their opponents in all five games, punctuated by 17 on Sunday vs. the Bears. Last year, UO swept a three-game set vs. the Cajuns at Howe Field.
UP NEXT: The Ducks travel to Cathedral City, Calif., for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. Oregon will face Nebraska and Cal State Northridge on Friday, Feb. 26, followed by Fresno State and Missouri on Feb. 27, and Oklahoma State on Feb. 28.
HIT PARADE: 11 Ducks registered at least one hit on Sunday. Gwen Svekis had a team-high three knocks, including a pair of doubles.
BUH-BYE NOW: Knapp's home run was the first for the senior since May 3, 2014 vs. Arizona State, while the freshman Utecht connected for the first time in her collegiate career … Lilley also went yard for the first time this season … Costa's HR gave her sole possession of 10th on the Ducks' all-time career list with 32.
WHAT A RELIEF: Oregon's relief pitchers did not allow a run over 9.0 innings of work during the five games at Lamson Park. Jasmine Smithson-Willett capped off that effort with two perfect frames on Sunday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kleist, Megan (4-1)
L: Landeros, Shivaun (3-2)
Batting:
2B: Gillespie, Alyssa 1 ; Udria, Nikki 1 ; Svekis, Gwen 2 ; Lindvall, Lauren 1
HR: Costa, Koral 1 ; Lilley, Jenna 1 ; Utecht, April 1 ; Knapp, Stevie Jo 1
RBI: Gillespie, Alyssa 1 ; Udria, Nikki 1 ; Costa, Koral 2 ; Lilley, Jenna 3 ; Utecht, April 4 ; Svekis, Gwen 1 ; Knapp, Stevie Jo 3 ; Lindvall, Lauren 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Gillespie, Alyssa 1 ; Kaboli-Nejad, Darya 1 ; Costa, Koral 2 ; Miller, Autumn 1 ; Burks, Cherish 3 ; Lilley, Jenna 2 ; Lindvall, Janelle 1 ; Mercado, Danica 1 ; Utecht, April 1 ; Svekis, Gwen 3 ; Bishop, Madi 1 ; Knapp, Stevie Jo 1 ; Lindvall, Lauren 1
Batting:
2B: McArthur, Brianna 1
RBI: Stirton, Hannah 1 ; McArthur, Brianna 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Forrest, Sam 1 ; Whisenhunt, Briana 1 ; Taylor, Jessie 1
HBP: Forrest, Sam 1
