Ducks No Match for No. 1 UCLA

The first two hitters in the UCLA lineup each had two hits – Katie Schroeder (2-for-2, 2 runs, 1 walk) and Krista Colburn (2-for-3, 3 runs, 1 walk).

Photo courtesy: goducks.com

LOS ANGELES - The University of Oregon softball team (25-13, 0-2) lost to No. 1 UCLA, 12-0, to close Sunday's first weekend of Pac-10 action.

The Bruins (31-3, 3-0) put up five runs in both the first and second innings, and added three more in the bottom of the third as starter Anjelica Selden (15-2), a two-time Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week already this year, penned four shutout innings.

In the bottom half of the first inning, UCLA led off with a pair of singles through the right side beyond diving attempts by second baseman Cortney Kivett. Senior right-hander and starter Alicia Cook (10-7) walked the next three batters, two of which forced in runs.

With UO down 2-0, freshman left-hander Brittany Rumfelt came in with no outs and the bases still loaded and got the first out on a force-out at home. UCLA scored again on a forceout at second base, and then got a 2-RBI single from Julie Burney to left field to make it 5-0. Afterwards, UCLA’s ninth hitter Kaila Shull struck out to end the inning.

In the second inning with no outs, UCLA loaded the bases on a walk and two singles, but third baseman Joanna Gail started a double play on a lineout and threw to second for the force on the failed tag-up by the base-runner. The Bruins added a two-out, 2-RBI single to left field, and then another up the middle that scored three runs when the ball sneaked under Neena Bryant’s glove and bounced to the wall after an initial deflection by Cortney Kivett behind second base. UCLA added another run on a single to left field before a groundout that ended the inning.

UCLA’s runs in the third came after the opening batters reached via a walk, hit by pitch and error. The first run came in after a bases loaded walk, and the other on a chopper single to shortstop Lovena Chaput, just in front of second base.

Oregon threatened to score in the top of the fourth inning when Chaput opened with a single to third base. After a strikeout and fielder’s choice, pinch hitters Blair Williamson and Ashley Kivett added singles to load the bases, but a strikeout ended the inning.

Oregon was also poised to score in the first inning, Cortney Kivett beat out a slow grounder to the left side, then stole her team-leading 29th stolen base of the season – fourth-best all-time for UO behind Suzie Barnes (first, 41 2007), junior teammate Sari-Jane Jenkins (second, 38, 2007) and Marnie McCall (third, 36, 1992)

Bryant followed with a hard single through the left side, then stole second to put runners on second and third with one out. Lovena Chaput hit a soft liner to the shortstop, and Joanna Gail struck out swinging to end the inning.

Cook came back in the game to pitch the third and fourth innings, and altogether struck out four, walked five, and all seven runs of her runs allowed were earned. Rumfelt also pitched two innings, gave up five hits, struck out one and walked three, and three of her five runs allowed were earned.

At the plate, Bryant went 2-for-3 Sunday – a day after the Bruins ended her 11-game hitting streak. Other Ducks that hit safely included pinch hitters Blair Williamson and Ashley Kivett and leadoff hitter Cortney Kivett (1-for-3).

The first two hitters in the UCLA lineup each had two hits – Katie Schroeder (2-for-2, 2 runs, 1 walk) and Krista Colburn (2-for-3, 3 runs, 1 walk) - as did Julie Barney (2-for-3, 3 RBI).

On the mound, Selden gave up five hits in her four innings, struck out eight, and walked one. Megan Langenfeld came in and pitched the final inning for the second straight day, and struck out one and gave up Bryant’s second hit – a sinking pop over the third baseman’s head that the shortstop dove to catch, but the ball squirted out.

The day before on Saturday, UO junior Melissa Rice gave up only two hits and one earned run in UO's league opener, a 2-0 loss to UCLA. Oregon, which entered the weekend on an 11-game winning streak, was originally scheduled to face Washington Friday afternoon in Seattle but the game was cancelled due to snow and rain.

Looking ahead, the Duck return home to the friendly confines of Howe Field next week to face Oregon State, Wednesday, April 2 at 4 p.m., and No. 2 Arizona State on Friday, April 4 at 4 p.m. Also next weekend, UO welcomes returning national champion and No. 10 Arizona, Saturday, April 5 at 1 p.m. and Sunday, April 6 at noon.

Source: goducks.com

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