As the rain fell harder and heavier, Cheridan Hawkins got better.
After leaving a total of five runners on base after three, Hawkins was able to retire nine of the final 11 batters she faced, leading the No. 2 Ducks to a 4-0 win over No. 5 Washington in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, Hawkins picked up her 17th victory of the season and helped the Ducks improve to 29-4 on the year and 5-0 in Pac-12 play. The Huskies dropped to 21-8 on the season and 2-4 in conference play.
Hawkins pitched a complete game, totaling seven innings and giving up no runs on six hits, three walks and five strikeouts. She pitched five scoreless innings in Oregon’s 8-0 win hours earlier.
Courtney Ceo led the Ducks’ offense by going 3-for-4 with three singles, a run and a stolen base. She showed off her extensive skill set by notching two hits on bunts, a far cry from the game earlier in the day when she hit a two-run home run.
The first two innings of the game went scoreless, but the Ducks struck in the bottom of the third inning. Ceo singled with one out, but was forced out at second base as Alyssa Gillespie hit into a fielder’s choice. After Gillsepie stole second base, Janie Takeda stepped to the plate and rocked a single to center field that scored Gillespie.
The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth inning when Oregon added to the score with two more runs.
Nikki Udria and Ceo were the catalysts for the rally as they led off the bottom of the inning with singles to put runners at first and second. Gillespie reached on another fielder’s choice to load the bases, before Takeda was hit by a pitch, scoring Udria and keeping the bases loaded.
Alexa Peterson stepped to the plate and, after battling with two strikes, appeared to hit a massive grand slam down the left field line. However the ball was ruled foul by the umpires. 13 pitches later, Peterson was finally retired on a popout. The damage wasn’t done though as a passed ball allowed Ceo to score the final run of the inning and gave Hawkins some breathing room.
The Ducks added a final run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Janelle Lindvall hammered a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall for a solo home run.
Both teams return to action tomorrow for the series finale at 3 p.m. at Howe Field.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka