Elish, Ducks Blank Texas in Second Shutout of the Day

Friday, February 16

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

6:00 PM

University of Oregon

9-0

Texas

3-4

Texas

Oregon

Photo by: Samuel Marshall/Eric Evans Photography

Elish, Ducks Blank Texas in Second Shutout of the Day

02/16/18 | Softball

Box Score Box: #3 Oregon 8, Texas 0 (5)

Miranda Elish extended her scoreless innings streak to 15.1 to start the season and Jenna Lilley went 2-for-2 with four RBIs to lead No. 3 Oregon past Texas, 8-0

By: Nate Krueger

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico - Sophomore Miranda Elish threw her third shutout of the season and the Ducks' second of the day as the No. 3 ranked Oregon softball team run-ruled Texas in five innings, 8-0, on Friday night at Nancie Almaraz Field.

The Ducks (9-0) recorded their seventh run-rule victory of the year, and second of the day after beating Rutgers 10-0 earlier on Friday, to move to 3-0 on the weekend with one game remaining in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.

How it Happened: Oregon's offense put up eight runs on seven hits against Texas (3-4), highlighted by a five-run second inning, to back Elish (3-0), who extended her scoreless inning streak to 15.1 to start the season. The sophomore struck out seven over five scoreless frames while allowing just three hits to keep UO's team ERA at 0.00 for the weekend. The Ducks have outscored their opponents 19-0 in three games in Puerto Vallarta, and they have gone 20.1 straight innings without allowing a run.

Senior DJ Sanders, who homered earlier in the day against Rutgers, hit a solo blast to kick off the five-run second inning. Junior Alexis Mack extended her team-best hitting streak to 15 games with an RBI infield single to make it 2-0, and senior Jenna Lilley just missed her second grand slam of the season with a two-run double off the fence in right-center field. Mack crossed the plate on a wild pitch for UO's fifth run of the inning, marking the second such frame of the day for the Ducks after they scored five in the first inning against Rutgers.

Lilley stayed hot in the bottom of the third inning, driving in two more runs with a sharp single up the middle. Freshman Mary Iakopo put the Ducks in run-rule territory in the fourth with an RBI double off the fence in center, and Elish locked down the victory by striking out the side in the top of the fifth.

Jenna Lilley goes 2-for-2 with four RBIs, DJ Sanders takes over the team lead in home runs (6) and Miranda Elish strikes out seven over five scoreless in another run-rule victory for the Ducks #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/9Q687pMuPN
— Oregon Softball (@OregonSB) February 17, 2018

In the Circle: Elish did not surrender a walk while striking out seven Longhorns. In three starts and four total appearances this season, Elish has 27 strikeouts with only one walk while allowing no runs and scattering just nine hits. In addition to holding opponents scoreless over the last 20.1 innings, Oregon's pitching staff has not surrendered an earned run in 28.1 consecutive innings.

At the Plate: Lilley capped a tremendous day at the plate by going 2-for-2 with a team-high four RBIs, making her 5-for-5 with seven RBIs in the Ducks' two games Friday. Lilley is also UO's new RBI leader this season with 16. Sanders took over the team lead in home runs with her sixth blast of the season, and both Mack and Iakopo drove in a run. Mack finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored while extending her hitting streak.

Up Next: The Ducks will look to complete an undefeated weekend at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge at 6 p.m. PT on Saturday against Ole Miss.

The offense was great today, but take a look at the numbers for the Ducks' pitching staff so far in three wins at the #PVChallenge ??@MeganKleist: 7 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 10 K, 0 BB@BalintMaggie: 5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 4 K, 2 BB@elish_miranda: 5 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 7 K, 0 BB

Wow #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/o2YisselYE
— Oregon Softball (@OregonSB) February 17, 2018