Sunday, February 16
Phoenix, AZ
8:00 AM
University of Oregon
10-1
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Belmont
5-5
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Belmont
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Oregon
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Photo by: Aimee Sinacola/GoDucks.com
Grein Strikes Out 12 as Ducks Defeat Belmont, 4-1
02/16/25 | Softball
PHOENIX – Lyndsey Grein tied her career high with 12 strikeouts and Emma Cox and Rylee McCoy homered to lead Oregon past Belmont, 4-1, Sunday at the Littlewood Classic at GCU Softball Stadium.
Grein, who took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, improved to 5-0 on the season and lowered her ERA to 1.59. The junior transfer from Mokena, Ill., gave up just one hit and one unearned run in matching her career-best strikeout effort from Virginia Tech, 12 versus Auburn in 2024.
"Definitely worked hard to start fast, stay fast and finish fast," said Grein. "That's one of the things our team focuses on and I've seen how well our offense has picked up on that and really wanted to work on that on my side."
How It Happened: Grein struck out eight of the first 11 Bruins she faced on Sunday.
She struck out the side in the second inning and fanned two batters in the first, third, fourth and fifth.
What was working for Grein on Sunday?"
"Everything," said Cox who started behind the plate. "Wherever I put my glove, she hit the spot. It was super fun and easy to catch. She commanded her changeup well but then also blew it by them with the rise ball. She did a great job executing."
Belmont only managed to get one ball out of the infield over the first five innings – a shallow fly to left off the bat of Baie Ensio to end the third.
Grein recorded the first two outs of the sixth inning before giving up a solid single back up the middle to Emily Cockrill, who eventually scored an unearned run.
Grein was lifted for Taylour Spencer who pitched the final 1.1 innings.
Cox gave Grien all the run support she would need with a two-run home run in the first inning.
Dezianna Patmon laced a double to right. One out later on a full-count pitch, Cox drilled her third home run over the season over the wall in right field.
"Any way that I can get settled into the game quickly helps, whether that's on offense or defense," said Cox. "Just trying to execute the job and get settled."
Stefini Ma'ake wrapped up an impressive Littlewood Classic with an RBI single in the third inning that scored Patmon for a 3-0 lead. It was Ma'ake's 11th RBI of the weekend.
McCoy led off the fourth inning with her third homer of the season for Oregon's final run of the game.
Notable: Ma'ake's home run streak ended at four games … Kai Luschar stole another base against Belmont to give her a nation-leading 19 steals on the season … As a team, Oregon added another four steals to its season total and now lead the NCAA with 57 … Paige Sinicki had two of Oregon's stolen bases and made her 140th consecutive starts at shortstop … McCoy's home run extended her hitting streak to five games … Spencer has yet to allow an earned run on 10.1 innings … Patmon had two hits and scored two runs against the Bruins … Oregon went 5-1 at the Littlewood Classic … The Ducks' 10-1 start is the program's best since going 24-1 to open the 2021 season.
Quotable:
Pitcher Lyndsey Grein on the importance of making a strong Sunday start
"Definitely wanted to finish strong for the team. I think our team just does a really good job of getting it done."
Up Next: Oregon will face five 2024 NCAA Tournament teams – California, Tennessee, Utah, San Diego State and Missouri – at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic that begins Thursday.
- www.GoDucks.com -
Grein, who took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, improved to 5-0 on the season and lowered her ERA to 1.59. The junior transfer from Mokena, Ill., gave up just one hit and one unearned run in matching her career-best strikeout effort from Virginia Tech, 12 versus Auburn in 2024.
"Definitely worked hard to start fast, stay fast and finish fast," said Grein. "That's one of the things our team focuses on and I've seen how well our offense has picked up on that and really wanted to work on that on my side."
How It Happened: Grein struck out eight of the first 11 Bruins she faced on Sunday.
She struck out the side in the second inning and fanned two batters in the first, third, fourth and fifth.
What was working for Grein on Sunday?"
"Everything," said Cox who started behind the plate. "Wherever I put my glove, she hit the spot. It was super fun and easy to catch. She commanded her changeup well but then also blew it by them with the rise ball. She did a great job executing."
Belmont only managed to get one ball out of the infield over the first five innings – a shallow fly to left off the bat of Baie Ensio to end the third.
Grein recorded the first two outs of the sixth inning before giving up a solid single back up the middle to Emily Cockrill, who eventually scored an unearned run.
Grein was lifted for Taylour Spencer who pitched the final 1.1 innings.
Cox gave Grien all the run support she would need with a two-run home run in the first inning.
Dezianna Patmon laced a double to right. One out later on a full-count pitch, Cox drilled her third home run over the season over the wall in right field.
"Any way that I can get settled into the game quickly helps, whether that's on offense or defense," said Cox. "Just trying to execute the job and get settled."
Stefini Ma'ake wrapped up an impressive Littlewood Classic with an RBI single in the third inning that scored Patmon for a 3-0 lead. It was Ma'ake's 11th RBI of the weekend.
McCoy led off the fourth inning with her third homer of the season for Oregon's final run of the game.
Notable: Ma'ake's home run streak ended at four games … Kai Luschar stole another base against Belmont to give her a nation-leading 19 steals on the season … As a team, Oregon added another four steals to its season total and now lead the NCAA with 57 … Paige Sinicki had two of Oregon's stolen bases and made her 140th consecutive starts at shortstop … McCoy's home run extended her hitting streak to five games … Spencer has yet to allow an earned run on 10.1 innings … Patmon had two hits and scored two runs against the Bruins … Oregon went 5-1 at the Littlewood Classic … The Ducks' 10-1 start is the program's best since going 24-1 to open the 2021 season.
Quotable:
Pitcher Lyndsey Grein on the importance of making a strong Sunday start
"Definitely wanted to finish strong for the team. I think our team just does a really good job of getting it done."
Up Next: Oregon will face five 2024 NCAA Tournament teams – California, Tennessee, Utah, San Diego State and Missouri – at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic that begins Thursday.
- www.GoDucks.com -
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Grein, Lyndsey (5-0)
L: Willis (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Spindler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: E. Cockrill 1
HBP: Spindler 1
Batting:
2B: Patmon, Dezianna 1
HR: Cox, Emma 1 ; McCoy, Rylee 1
RBI: Ma'ake, Stefini 1 ; Cox, Emma 2 ; McCoy, Rylee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Patmon, Dezianna 2 ; Cox, Emma 1 ; McCoy, Rylee 1
SB: Luschar, Kai 1 ; Sinicki, Paige 2 ; Jones, Kaylynn 1
CS: Luschar, Kai 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF/OF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF/OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
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