Oregon softball’s season ended in heartache on May 29.

The Ducks’ bats fell quiet in its 2-1 loss to UCLA at Jane Sanders Stadium. The loss means the Ducks will not play in the Women’s College World Series for a third straight year.

No. 12 seeded UCLA (40-14-1) held Oregon’s offense to two runs and 10 hits in the two games Sunday, which spanned 16 innings.

“Right now it hurts a lot, especially for the seniors who can’t go back out and make amends again,” Oregon coach Mike White said.

Oregon (48-10) averaged 7.8 runs a game coming into Sunday. Jenna Lilley and Gwen Svekis had the most success at the plate, both going 2-for-3. The Ducks combined for two runs at the hands of UCLA’s pitching combination of Selina Ta’amilo and Paige McDuffee.

“Ta’amilo pitched very well, kept us off balance, did a great job of keeping the ball in the yard,” White said. “Then McDuffee came in and did the same thing.”

UCLA scored in the first and fourth innings. Both runs were the result of walks issued by Cheridan Hawkins. She gave up just one earned run while striking out nine UCLA batters.

After the game, she appeared to be at a loss for words.

“It’s been a good four years, but this is a hard day,” Hawkins said.

Janelle Lindvall, who will depart Eugene as the school recorder holder in home runs (48), said the Ducks saw a few different looks on Sunday compared to Saturday.

“We were just trying to communicate, trying to come up with an approach that worked,” Lindvall said. “Maybe we switched it around too much, maybe we just didn’t square enough. It’s one of those things you’ll never know, and that’s what sucks about it.”

In the first inning, Koral Costa committed an error, overthrowing Lilley at third base. That allowed leadoff batter Allexis Bennett to score without question. The Bruins added another run in the fourth inning.

In the seventh inning, Oregon’s final chance to score, Gwen Svekis led off with a single. Hailey Decker flied out in the infield. Mercado, pinch running for Svekis, scored when Lilley doubled to center field. That left the tying run at second base, but Nikki Udria could not bring her home, flying out in the infield.

UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said her squad’s pitching efforts allowed them to reach Oklahoma City.

“I believe both of us could be a top eight team at the World Series,” Inouye-Perez. “But credit to them for having a solid year.”

White said the Ducks looked for offensive adjustments between the two games.

“We tried a lot of different things. Some days it just doesn’t work and you’re scratching your head over there…” White said. “We left no stone unturned, I’ll put it to you that way without giving away any trade secrets.”

Following the final out, White took the time to congratulate his senior class, which won four conference titles in four years.

“They’ve been true ambassadors for this sport, and I’m extremely proud of this group,” White said. “In fact, the whole team, the way they carried themselves and the way they played. I couldn’t say enough about what they’ve done for this program.”

He later continued: “I’m a competitor and it hurts losing. I’m going to go back to the drawing board with my coaches and the returning players and I’m going to figure out a way to get better.”

Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne