No. 3 UCLA Rallies Past Oregon, 3-1

Chaput’s homer was the only hit off Bruin All-America starter Anjelica Selden who struck out 13 and walked one in her complete game.

Photo courtesy: goducks.com

EUGENE, Ore. - After senior Lovena Chaput smashed a towering home run over the right field scoreboard Thursday afternoon, No. 3 UCLA came back to beat the UO softball team, 3-1.

After both teams were scoreless and hitless the first three innings, Chaput sailed her sixth homer of the year over the right field scoreboard. The Tualatin, Ore., native’s homer was her second the past five games and 22nd of her career – moving her into a tie for eighth all-time for UO with former great Missy Coe.

Chaput also already stood top 10 in career RBIs, and her 93rd Thursday moved her within two from ninth all-time in school history (95). Chaput also ranks third on the team in home runs this season behind Neena Bryant (9) and Joanna Gail (7) and is tied with freshman Monique Fuiava.

UCLA (44-6, 16-3) responded with a run in the fifth inning and two in the sixth to help sweep the season series over UO.

In the fifth inning, Gionna DiSalvatore singled to deep right field, advanced to second on a hit by pitch and third on a fly ball, then scored on an infield single to shortstop. In the sixth, the opening hitters got on via a walk and error with no outs. A double scored the first run, and the second runner crossed the plate two batters later on a hard infield fielder’s choice grounder that was knocked down by third baseman Joanna Gail and gloved by Chaput at third base who tagged third base for the second out of the inning.

For UO (32-25, 4-14), Chaput’s homer was the only hit off Bruin All-America starter Anjelica Selden (23-3) who struck out 13 and walked one in her complete game. Junior Sari-Jane Jenkins logged her team-leading 29th walk of the season off Seleden to tie for 10th in the Duck season record books.

Oregon senior right-hander Alicia Cook (15-11) held the talented Bruin lineup to three hits, struck out six – two off her season high – and walked two in her 16th complete game of the season. Cook’s 146 season strikeouts rank seventh all-time for UO in a season and are only seven away from sixth all-time.

Looking ahead to the weekend’s final regular season games, UO hosts No. 24 Washington for a doubleheader Friday that starts at 1:30 p.m., and again for the season finale, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. that will be televised live by Fox Sports Northwest.

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