No. 6 Ducks Face Rutgers

THIS WEEK
No. 6 Oregon travels to New Jersey for a series at Rutgers. The Ducks will play Friday at 1 p.m. PT on Big Ten Network and Saturday at noon (B1G+). It will be the first meeting between the Ducks and Scarlet Knights since 2018. Next Wednesday, Oregon will face Oregon State in Corvallis (6 p.m., ESPN+).

McCOY ENTERS THE CHAT
Rylee McCoy is making a case for freshman of the year consideration. Nationally, she leads all freshmen in slugging (1.000), is third in batting average (.452) and fourth in home runs (11). In the Big Ten, she leads all batters in slugging percentage and is fifth in home runs and seventh in average.

NUMBERS TO KNOW
1- Lyndsey Grein leads the Big Ten in ERA (1.03), opponent BA (.141) and wins (16).
108 - Oregon is second in the NCAA with 108 steals, No. 3 on the UO season list.
.982 - Oregon is second in the Big Ten and fifth nationally in fielding pct.
1.72 - Oregon leads the Big Ten and is second nationally in ERA (1.72).
2018 - 29-3 is Oregon's best record through 32 games since 2018 (32-0).

DUCKS PACE BIG TEN IN PITCHING
Oregon leads the Big Ten in earned run average (1.72) and is second nationally.

DUCKS SHUT DOWN ILLINI
Oregon held Illinois to just four runs (two earned) in the three-game series March 21-23. The Illini hit .180 for the series (11-for-61). The Illinois series also marked the return of Staci Chambers, who had been out since the first week of the season. She got the final two outs of game two.

ELITE LEVEL DEFENSE
Defense has been a hallmark of coach Melyssa Lombardi's program since day one. The Ducks are second in the Big Ten and fifth nationally in fielding at .982. Last season, the Ducks were again one of the best defensive teams in the nation. The Ducks were 24th nationally and fourth in the Pac-12 and in fielding percentage (.974). In 2022, Oregon led the Pac-12 and ranked 10th nationally with a .977 fielding percentage. That mark tied the program record set the year before (2021).

SECOND IN NCAA STEALS
As a team, Oregon is second in the NCAA with 108 steals. Individually, Kai Luschar is second nationally with 35 steals.

WE'VE GOT THE POWER
The Ducks are 12th nationally in home runs with 49 and 15th nationally in RBI (219).

LEADERS OF THE PACK
The Ducks rank in the Big Ten's top five in nine different offensive categories. Oregon is pacing the league in steals and steals per game. The Ducks are third in walks and fourth in batting average, home runs and on-base percentage.

SISTER ACT
Starting outfielders Kai Luschar (LF) and Kedre Luschar (CF) have combined for 76 hits, 54 runs and 49 stolen bases. Kedre leads the team in doubles (9) and is second on the team in batting average (.439) and hits (36). In addition to leading the Big Ten in steals (35), Kai leads the team in hits (40). Both are seniors, though Kai, a fifth-year senior, is a year older.

SINICKI SHORTSTOP STARTS
2024 Gold Glove winner Paige Sinicki has started 161 consecutive games at shortstop for the Ducks.