Friday, May 2
Eugene, OR
6:00 PM
University of Oregon
45-6, 0
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6
Michigan State
16-27, 0
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6
7
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H
E
Michigan State
0
6
0
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6
6
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Oregon
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0
2
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4
5
3
Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Big Ten Title At Stake Saturday
05/02/25 | Softball
The Oregon softball team can clinch a share of the conference title Saturday, after being unable to do so Friday.
EUGENE, Ore. — A Big Ten title will be at stake for the No. 3 Oregon softball team Saturday, a day after the Ducks weren't able to clinch a share of the regular-season crown.
The Ducks took the field Friday knowing UCLA had lost to Northwestern, putting Oregon in position to clinch a share of the conference title with a win over Michigan State. The Spartans had other ideas, scoring six times in the second inning to win 6-4 and setting up another chance for Oregon to clinch at home Saturday.
"We need to play better — a full seven innings better than we did today," UO coach Melyssa Lombardi said. "They understand it, and I know tomorrow they'll show up. This group is resilient and they'll be ready to go tomorrow."
National player of the year finalist Kedre Luschar drove in three runs during Oregon's comeback attempt, and her sister Kai Luschar stole her 50th base of the season, extending her UO record. But the Ducks couldn't take advantage after loading the bases with nobody out in the sixth, and the Spartans got the win.
How It Happened: Michigan State started its six-run second inning with a solo homer off UO starter Lyndsey Grein (26-2). The Spartans capitalized on four more hits, three walks and three uncharacteristic errors by Oregon in the inning, the big blow a three-run double by the second batter to face UO reliever Elise Sokolsky.
"That's just not us, not us at all," Lombardi said. "We pride ourselves on our defense, pride ourselves on the little things. I just think we missed the mark today on that. But what I do like today is the fight; we fought back."
Sokolsky left the bases loaded to end the inning, and Oregon got to work trying to come back. In the third, Katie Flannery walked with one out and Ayanna Shaw followed with a single; a fielder's choice and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with two out, and Kedre Luschar came through with a two-run single.
The Ducks rallied again with two out in the fifth. Kai Luschar reached on a two-out bunt single, then stole second. Paige Sinicki drove her in with a triple, and a single by Kedre Luschar scored Sinicki to make it 6-4.
That was the score entering the bottom of the sixth, when Emma Cox was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Stefini Ma'ake walked and Kaylynn Jones reached on an error to load the bases, and the Ducks were in business with nobody out. But the next three hitters were retired in order as Oregon couldn't capitalize.
"We got down, which, I get that," Lombardi said. "There's a lot of game left. We just didn't take advantage of opportunities."
Sokolsky pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning, her fifth straight frame facing the minimum after the six-run second. But the Ducks were set down in order as well in the bottom of the seventh.
Notable: Friday was Oregon's alumni game, and 2024 senior Hanna Delgado — whose final season was cut short due to injury — threw out the ceremonial first pitch. … Luschar's 50 steals are third-most in Big Ten history, two shy of tying for second. … The Ducks committed three errors in a game for just the second time all season.
Up Next: The Ducks host the Spartans on Saturday (2 p.m., BTN).
The Ducks took the field Friday knowing UCLA had lost to Northwestern, putting Oregon in position to clinch a share of the conference title with a win over Michigan State. The Spartans had other ideas, scoring six times in the second inning to win 6-4 and setting up another chance for Oregon to clinch at home Saturday.
"We need to play better — a full seven innings better than we did today," UO coach Melyssa Lombardi said. "They understand it, and I know tomorrow they'll show up. This group is resilient and they'll be ready to go tomorrow."
National player of the year finalist Kedre Luschar drove in three runs during Oregon's comeback attempt, and her sister Kai Luschar stole her 50th base of the season, extending her UO record. But the Ducks couldn't take advantage after loading the bases with nobody out in the sixth, and the Spartans got the win.
How It Happened: Michigan State started its six-run second inning with a solo homer off UO starter Lyndsey Grein (26-2). The Spartans capitalized on four more hits, three walks and three uncharacteristic errors by Oregon in the inning, the big blow a three-run double by the second batter to face UO reliever Elise Sokolsky.
"That's just not us, not us at all," Lombardi said. "We pride ourselves on our defense, pride ourselves on the little things. I just think we missed the mark today on that. But what I do like today is the fight; we fought back."
Sokolsky left the bases loaded to end the inning, and Oregon got to work trying to come back. In the third, Katie Flannery walked with one out and Ayanna Shaw followed with a single; a fielder's choice and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with two out, and Kedre Luschar came through with a two-run single.
The Ducks rallied again with two out in the fifth. Kai Luschar reached on a two-out bunt single, then stole second. Paige Sinicki drove her in with a triple, and a single by Kedre Luschar scored Sinicki to make it 6-4.
That was the score entering the bottom of the sixth, when Emma Cox was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Stefini Ma'ake walked and Kaylynn Jones reached on an error to load the bases, and the Ducks were in business with nobody out. But the next three hitters were retired in order as Oregon couldn't capitalize.
"We got down, which, I get that," Lombardi said. "There's a lot of game left. We just didn't take advantage of opportunities."
Sokolsky pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning, her fifth straight frame facing the minimum after the six-run second. But the Ducks were set down in order as well in the bottom of the seventh.
Notable: Friday was Oregon's alumni game, and 2024 senior Hanna Delgado — whose final season was cut short due to injury — threw out the ceremonial first pitch. … Luschar's 50 steals are third-most in Big Ten history, two shy of tying for second. … The Ducks committed three errors in a game for just the second time all season.
Up Next: The Ducks host the Spartans on Saturday (2 p.m., BTN).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Taylor, Madison (3-6)
L: Grein, Lyndsey (26-2)
S: Cassady, Carsyn (2)
Batting:
2B: Doloszycki, Sydney 1 ; Allen, Collette 1
HR: Cash, Kaelin 1
RBI: Doloszycki, Sydney 3 ; Hawley, Hannah 1 ; Cash, Kaelin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Greer, Hannah 1 ; Doloszycki, Sydney 1 ; Cash, Kaelin 1 ; Allen, Collette 1 ; Conroy, Payton 1 ; Coffinger, Ava 1
Batting:
3B: Sinicki, Paige 1
RBI: Sinicki, Paige 1 ; Luschar, Kedre 3
SH: Jones, Kaylynn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Luschar, Kai 2 ; Sinicki, Paige 1 ; Shaw, Ayanna 1
SB: Luschar, Kai 1
HBP: Sinicki, Paige 1 ; Cox, Emma 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
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