#16 UO Beats #9 Arizona, 12-6

No. 16 Duck Softball Routs No. 9 Wildcats, 12-6

www.goducks.com

(TUCSON, Ariz.) - The No. 16 University of Oregon softball team (35-11, 7-7) banged out a season-high 16 hits Saturday night to beat No. 9 Arizona (36-13, 7-7) for the second straight game.

In the Ducks' 12-6 victory, UO scored its most runs ever in the 94-game series dating back to 1984, and bettered its former mark (11) dating back to an 18-11 loss in '98.

UO's 12 runs was also the most scored on UA this season, and bettered Oklahoma's total from its 11-1 opening weekend win.

Oregon struck for one run in the first inning, three in the third, one in the fifth, five in the sixth and two more in the seventh, while Arizona's runs came in the first (2), fifth (3) and sixth (1) innings.

Leading the Ducks at the plate, junior Kelsey Chambers (4-for-4) tied a Duck season high in hits and doubled twice.

Five others hit safely twice - freshmen Courtney Ceo and Alexa Peterson, sophomores Kaylan Howard and Samantha Pappas and senior Monique Fuiava - and the latter climbed a position on the UO career chart into a tie for fourth place (36).

Senior starter Brittany Rumfelt pitched the first 4.1 innings, struck out four, walked two, gave up eight hits, and four of her five runs allowed were earned.

Junior Samantha Skillingstad (9-3) pitched the final 2.2 innings, struck out one, walked one, yielded two hits, and her one run allowed was earned.

On the mound for Arizona, freshman Shelby Babcock (15-6) pitched the first five innings, struck out five, walked three, gave up nine hits, and all six of her runs allowed were earned.

Sophomore Baillie Kirker (0-1), pitched the sixth inning and gave up four runs - all earned - on four hits, and struck out none and walked none.

Senior Victoria Kemp pitched the final inning, struck out one, walked one, and allowed three hits, and was charged with two earned runs.

At the plate for UA, six players hit safely, led by Karissa Buchanan (3-for-4, 2 RB), while Brittany Lastrapes hit the only homer of the game between the two teams.

Looking ahead, the two teams meet for the third and time game of the series Sunday at noon at Hillenbrand Stadium.

UO aims for its first season sweep in the rivalry after it won Friday night's contest, 2-0, thanks to a pair of seventh-inning RBI's courtesy of a Fuiava bases-loaded walk, and sacrifice fly by senior Kaitlin Vitek.

Source: www.goducks.com