Ducks Look to Bounce Back After Pair of One-Run Losses

Thursday, February 28

Fullerton, CA

12:00 PM

University of Oregon

11-5

Florida

20-1

Oregon

Florida

Ducks Look to Bounce Back After Pair of One-Run Losses

02/28/19 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box: Florida 2, Oregon 1 Box: CSUF 3, Oregon 2

By: Nate Krueger

FULLERTON, Calif. – The Oregon softball team dropped a pair of one-run games to No. 3 Florida and Cal State Fullerton on Thursday in the Judi Garman Classic.

The No. 20 Ducks (11-6) had a 1-0 lead late against the No. 3 Gators in the first game of the day, but defensive mistakes allowed a pair of unearned runs to score in the fifth to help Florida to a 2-1 win. Oregon played another tight game against the host Titans after a short turnaround, but lost a 3-2 decision on a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh.

Oregon will look to bounce back on Saturday at 10 a.m. PT against No. 22 Auburn.

GAME ONE – FLORIDA 2, OREGON 1
How it Happened: Sophomore ace Jordan Dail went toe-to-toe in the circle with Florida's Kelly Barnhill, regarded as one of the top pitchers in the nation. Dail worked around a leadoff double in the first and then stranded two runners in the second after a single and a walk. The lefty walked the leadoff hitter in the third, but retired the next three batters in order and then threw a 1-2-3 fourth inning.

Barnhill caught a break in the second inning, when senior Cherish Burks nearly left the yard on a deep fly ball to center that was brought back into play on a tremendous leaping catch by Florida's Jade Caraway. Jasmine Sievers singled for Oregon's first hit, but Barnhill struck out the next batter and then cruised through the third. Rachel Cid doubled with one out in the fourth, but Barnhill got out of the frame without any damage.

Senior April Utecht broke through against Barnhill in the fifth, cranking a leadoff solo home run to left-center field to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead. It was just the ninth earned run allowed by Barnhill this season and only the third home run.

Dail pitched well enough to get through the fifth unscathed, but defensive miscues hurt the Ducks as Florida (20-1) pushed across two unearned runs to take a 2-1 lead. An error put a runner on second with one out, and Florida's Kendyl Lindaman tied the game with a two-out RBI single. After a single put the go-ahead run in scoring position, a fly ball that was misread in the outfield dropped in for an RBI hit and the Gators took the lead.

Barnhill retired the final six batters in order to secure the win for the third-ranked Gators.

In the Circle: Dail (9-1) was brilliant despite taking her first loss of the season, striking out six Gators over six innings while allowing only two unearned runs on six hits. Barnhill (11-1) allowed just the one run on three hits over seven complete innings with nine strikeouts.

At the Plate: Utecht drove in Oregon's lone run with her third home run of the season, moving into a tie for the team lead. Cid and Sievers accounted for Oregon's other two hits against Barnhill.

GAME TWO – CAL STATE FULLERTON 3, OREGON 2
How it Happened: Cal State Fullerton () took a 2-0 lead through the first three innings, hitting a solo home run in the first and an RBI single in the third. Oregon put runners in scoring position in both innings, but were unable to cash in.

A hit-by-pitch by Shaye Bowden and a single by Burks got things going for the Ducks in the fourth, and Sievers put Oregon on the board with an RBI single up the middle. After a walk to Utecht loaded the bases, Hannah Galey worked an RBI walk to score Burks and tie the game, 2-2. Oregon was unable to capitalize further on the bases-loaded, no-outs situation, though, as the next here batters were retired in order.

Dail took over for sophomore Maddie MacGrandle in the fourth and continued her terrific day in the circle, holding the Titans hitless over the next three innings. But CSUF's Dani Martinez was just as effective in relief after entering with the bases loaded in the fourth, retiring 11 Ducks in a row before a two-out single in the seventh by Allee Bunker, who was stranded to end the inning.

The Titans put the winning run in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh via a single and a sacrifice bunt. After Dail recorded a strikeout for the second out and then intentionally walked the next batter, CSUF's Deshea Hill hit a bouncing ball that got past Sievers at short for a game-winning RBI single.

In the Circle: MacGrandle continued to show improvement in the circle, striking out four while allowing two runs over three innings. Dail (9-2) suffered her second tough loss of the day after allowing just one run on two hits with four strikeouts over 3.2 innings of relief.

At the Plate: Bunker accounted for two of Oregon's five hits, with Cruse, Burks and Sievers also adding singles.

Up Next: Oregon will be back in action in the Judi Garman Classic at 10 a.m. PT on Friday against No. 22 Auburn, the second of three ranked opponents the Ducks will face this weekend.