Oregon is likely to retain its No. 1 ranking in the country after finishing off the sweep against Stanford with a 7-2 victory on Sunday afternoon in Palo Alto, California.
The weekend can be summed up as “consistent” for the Ducks.
Oregon scored seven runs in every game and did so with a solid mix of bunt singles and extra base hits. Not only did the offense show a consistent rate of play, the pitching trio of Cheridan Hawkins, Karissa Hovinga and Jasmine Smithson-Willett held the Cardinal to run totals of zero, one and two, respectively.
Hawkins, after picking up the win in game one, improved her record to 27-3 on the year as she threw a complete game and gave up two earned runs with three walks and eight strikeouts. With the game firmly in control, Hawkins was touched up for single runs in the sixth and seventh innings but surrendered no more than that.
Nikki Udria went for 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored while Courtney Ceo went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Janie Takeda added a triple and Kailee Cuico and Alyssa Gillespie added an RBI each.
After a scoreless first inning, the scoring started in the second inning as the Ducks got a single run to lead 1-0.
Smithson-Willett drew a one-out walk and after another out was recorded and advanced to second on a single by Udria. Smithson-Willett came around to score after Ceo laid down a bunt and every runner advanced a base on an error.
The third inning began with a bang for the Ducks as Takeda led off with a triple to right center and then came around to score on a Cuico single. Janelle Lindvall and Alexa Peterson each drew walks to load the bases but two quick outs threatened to end the rally short.
Udria made sure that didn’t happen as she hit a two-run single to left center to make the score 4-0. Back-to-back singles by Ceo and Gillespie scored Karine Shaver and Udria, respectively, to complete the scoring in the inning and make the score 6-0.
The score remained the same entering the fifth inning when Ceo did all she could to get Oregon its seventh and final run.
With two outs, Ceo singled and then stole second base to put herself in scoring position. Gillespie walked but not before Ceo advanced to third on a wild pitch. With runners on the corners, Ceo and Gillespie executed a perfect double steal that saw Gillespie safe at second and Ceo across home plate for Oregon’s final run of the game.
The Ducks return to action on Tuesday when they host a doubleheader against Utah State at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka