Ducks Win Softball Doubleheader vs Portland State

Ashley Kivett paced the Ducks with her season-high three hits (3-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 run).

Photo courtesy: goducks.com

PORTLAND, Ore. - The University of Oregon softball team erupted for seven runs and seven hits in the seventh inning to win, 7-1, in game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader vs. Portland State at Erv Lind Stadium.

The Ducks rallied with singles from seven of the first nine batters in the final inning, coupled with another walk in that string, to score four runs off freshman starter Nicole Latham.

With one out, PSU’s all-conference pitcher Mandy Hill came in with the bases loaded and allowed another 2-run single to sophomore Carlyn Re and a sacrifice fly by freshman Ashley Kivett for UO’s final runs.

Ashley Kivett paced the Ducks with her season-high three hits (3-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 run), and senior Joanna Gail also had three hits (3-for-4, 1 RBI). Altogether, Ducks hit safely in eight of the nine spots in the batting order, and those with multiple hits included Cortney Kivett (2-for-4, 1 run), senior Lovena Chaput (2-for-2, 1 walk) and senior Kayleen Hudson (2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run).

On the mound, junior Melissa Rice started the game and pitched the first 3.1 innings, and gave up four hits and one run. After a rocket up the middle deflected off her glove hand forearm, senior Alicia Cook (12-9) came in and pitched the final 3.2 innings. Her seven strikeouts was only one off her season high (8) that she had in a complete game win vs. returning national champion Arizona two weeks ago, and she walked none, and allowed no hits and faced the minimum 11 batters.

PSU scored its lone run in the fourth inning after Jackie Heide doubled to right field, then scored two batters later on the single off Rice’s arm. The Vikings appeared ready to also score in the second inning after leadoff batters reach via a hit by pitch and single, but Rice answered with two strikeouts and a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Although the Ducks were held scoreless the first six innings, they had banged eight hits off Latham yet stranded eight baserunners.

However in the seventh inning, the scoring flood gates finally opened for head coach Kathy Arendsen’s crew.

UO loaded the bases with no outs after Ashley Kivett singled up the middle on a 2-2 count, followed by a leftside chopper single by junior Sari-Jane Jenkins, and a perfectly placed bunt single by Courtney Kivett. Junior Neena Bryant followed with a right field fly that bounced just in front of the right fielder’s mitt to score two runs.

Two batters later, Gail singled through the left side of the infield to score another run, and Lovena Chaput walked to re-load the bases. Hudson added a left field RBI single to knock Latham out, and sophomore Carlyn Re singled up the middle for 2 RBI off the new pitcher Hill. Ashley Kivett scored UO’s last run on a sacrifice fly to left field.

Earlier in the afternoon, Chaput and Hudson had consecutive RBI hits in the fourth inning in UO’s 2-1 win in the first game of the doubleheader. Freshman Brittany Rumfelt (4-1) cruised in her second complete game in a week and fifth overall this season. The Lakeport, Calif, native struck out two, walked none and gave up six hits and one earned run.

Looking ahead, the Ducks remain in the Willamette Valley this weekend and travel north to Corvallis for the final installments of the Civil War Sponsored by Your Northwest Dodge Dealers. Friday’s game starts at 4 p.m., and Saturday’s contest begins at 1 p.m.

Source: goducks.com

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