After putting on an offensive show in the first game against Utah Valley (14-37) — winning 8-0 by the run-rule — the No. 1 ranked Oregon softball team (46-5) struggled in game two. The Ducks still managed to pull out a 5-4 win, however, following a Koral Costa solo home run in the bottom of the sixth.
“Anytime you come away with two wins is a good day,” Oregon head coach Mike White said. “We obviously did what we had to do. We had a couple mental lapses out there and it wasn’t our best game but eventually came out on top and that’s what you need.”
Starting pitcher Karissa Hovinga threw a complete game in game one. Pitching five innings, Hovinga allowed just one hit, while walking none and striking out three in the process. The Ducks capped off her performance by bringing home seven runs in the first inning to cruise to a game one victory.
“I was just trying to go at them,” Hovinga said. “It’s pretty nice because it was warm out. I wasn’t too bothered by that one hit. It all evens out.”
Courtney Ceo and Alexa Peterson led the Ducks offensively. Ceo, who finished 2-for-2 during the game, was an integral part of the first inning where the Ducks sent 11 batters to the plate. Peterson finished with one hit, one RBI and one run.
Jasmine Smithson-Willett started for the Ducks in game two, allowing five hits, four runs (two earned) and recording five strikeouts before being replaced by Cheridan Hawkins in the top of the fifth. Following the substitution, Hawkins managed to keep the Wolverines from scoring and recorded eight strikeouts in her three innings.
“I was ready for anything (today),” Hawkins said. “I worked my rise ball a lot, climbed the ladder with it and I think that’s what helped today.”
For the Wolverines, it was Dara Rahm getting the start. Rahm, who was subbed out after 0.2 innings, gave up three runs. Replacing Rahm was Josi Summers, who finished the game with three strikeouts. In 5.1 innings, Summers gave up nine hits, three runs and was on the mound for two errors.
The Ducks got off to a quick start as they took an early 3-1 lead after the first inning. Scoring the runs were Ceo, off a wild pitch, Janie Takeda on a Janelle Lindvall two RBI singe and Kailee Cuico, who came home off an Alexa Peterson RBI single.
In the fifth inning, the Wolverines would fight back to tie the game up at 4-4 following a Morgan Summers three-RBI double to center field. But in the bottom of the sixth, Costa, who had been sidelined with an ankle injury, came in as a pinch-hitter and recorded solo home run to center field to put the Ducks up 5-4.
“With the second game, he (White) didn’t say my name and I thought I was going to sit out the whole game,” Costa said. “And then the inning before I went in to pinch-hit, Coach (James) Kolaitis came up to me and said, ‘Be ready.’ So, I went out there, started swinging and went to the bathroom. I come out and he said, ‘You’re leading off.’ I just grabbed my helmet — I didn’t have time to put my gloves on — got on, grabbed some dirt and tried to focus and it went pretty well.”
The Ducks will now look ahead to the weekend where they are set to face No. 3 ranked Arizona State in a three-game home series. Oregon currently leads the Pac-12 standings with the Sun Devils trailing at the third spot.
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