Utecht's Late Heroics Lead Upset of No. 8 LSU

Friday, February 15

Clearwater, FL

9:30 AM

University of Oregon

6-0

LSU

7-1

Oregon

LSU

02/15/19 | Softball

Box Score Box: Oregon 8, LSU 5

By: Nate Krueger

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Senior April Utecht drove in four runs over the final two innings, including a clutch three-run home run in the seventh, to power the No. 19 Oregon softball team to an 8-5 upset win over No. 8 LSU on Friday afternoon to open the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational.

The Ducks improved to 6-0 on the season with their biggest win yet under new coach Melyssa Lombardi.

How it Happened: After LSU scored three in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game, 4-4, senior Cherish Burks got things started in the sixth with a leadoff single and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Jasmine Sievers. Utecht then stepped to the dish and ripped an RBI single up the middle to put the Ducks back in front.

Starter Jordan Dail worked around a double in the bottom of the sixth to leave the tying run in scoring position, and the seniors came through once again in the seventh to tack on three insurance runs. Burks drew a two-out walk and moved to second on a Sievers single, and Utecht promptly crushed a three-run home run to left field to give Oregon a four-run cushion.

LSU got a run back in the seventh and had the tying run in the on-deck circle, but Dail induced a popout to Sievers at third and the Ducks secured their first top-10 win of the Lombardi era.

Now that's senior leadership. @april_utecht drives in four runs over the final two innings to lead Oregon past No. 8 LSU, both sparked by great at-bats from classmate @Cherishhhhhhh_. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/Rx3Hb8Sa2O
— Oregon Softball (@OregonSB) February 15, 2019

The Ducks chased LSU starter Ali Kilponen after just six batters in the top of the first with three runs to take an early 3-0 lead. Rachel Cid drove in the game's first run with an RBI single after Haley Cruse and Allee Bunker drew back-to-back walks, and Sievers continued her torrid start at the plate with a two-run single down the third-base line.

LSU got a run back in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI groundout after two walks and a hit batter, but Dail left two in scoring position with a strikeout to keep Oregon's lead at 3-1.

Catcher Shaye Bowden helped keep the Tigers off the board in the bottom of the second, throwing out a runner trying to steal for the second out and then picking off another at first to end the inning. The sophomore then got it done with her bat in the top of the third with an RBI single to score Cid, who walked and advanced on a pair of wild pitches, and extend the Ducks' lead to 4-1.

LSU threated in the fourth after Dail loaded the bases with no outs on a pair of hit batters and a walk. But the sophomore lefty settled down, getting a pair of popouts and her fourth strikeout to leave the bases full and keep Oregon in front by three.

Miscues came back to hurt the Ducks in the fifth, as a pair of errors and two wild pitches allowed LSU to score its second run of the day. The Tigers then tied the game on a two-run home run by Shelbi Sunseri, LSU's first hit of the game, setting the stage for Utecht's heroics.

At the Plate: Utecht finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs and her first homer of the season, and Sievers went 2-for-3 with two RBIs to give her five hits and five RBIs through her first six collegiate at-bats. Cid and Bowden each had a hit and an RBI, and Burks finished 1-for-1 with a walk and two runs scored.

In the Circle: Dail didn't have her best stuff all game, walking six and hitting four batters, but the sophomore left-hander showed incredible grit and toughness in her second complete-game effort of the season. The Forest, Va., native struck out eight and allowed only four hits to an LSU offense that scored 76 runs through its first seven games.

What it Means: Lombardi's young team has showcased a fierce unwillingness to give up throughout their first six games, and Friday's upset win was no different. The Ducks answered immediately after LSU tied the game in the fifth, and Dail continued to fight through control issues to hold one of the nation's most dynamic offenses at bay. Oregon will get another good test against a James Madison squad that is filled with quality pitching.