Pac-10 Softball: Early Home Runs Lift No. 14 UCLA Past No. 10 Oregon

The Bruins built their lead to three runs on a two-run homer.

Photo: goducks.com

EUGENE - Two early home runs for UCLA led the 14th-ranked Bruins to a 5-1 victory over 10th-ranked Oregon on Sunday afternoon at Howe Field.

Oregon, now on a three-game losing streak – its longest of the year, falls to 37-8 on the year and 3-5 in the Pac-10 Conference. UCLA improves to 28-11 and 4-4 in the Pac-10.

For the second straight day UCLA was able to take an early lead in the top of the first. It was the Bruins’ Lisa Dodd, who hit her 10th home run of the season, a blast sent dead to center, giving UCLA a 1-0 advantage.

The Bruins built their lead to three runs on a two-run homer, hit by Krista Colburn over the wall in left center in during the top of the third.

Joanna Gail’s squeeze scored Oregon’s first run to make the score 3-1 in bottom of the fourth.

The Ducks’ starting third baseman’s sacrifice bunt brought home Jenn Salling from third.

It was Oregon’s starting shortstop that led off the inning with a single and moved around the bases on a sacrifice bunt from Ann Marie Topps and an error on UCLA starter Megan Langenfeld.

But the Bruins continued to build their lead in the fifth, scoring two runs on three hits in the inning.

Colburn, Dodd, Jasia Creps and Tara Henry all had two hits apiece for UCLA.

Oregon’s Suzi Barnes and Sari-Jane Jenkins each picked up a hit and stolen base, while Salling had a hit and was walked.

Langenfeld (8-1) pitched all seven innings for UCLA allowing just one run on three hits, while striking out eight.

Oregon’s Melissa Rice took the loss after pitching seven innings and allowing five runs on nine hits.

Oregon has one final home game this month, hosting Portland State in a single game at 4:00 PM on Wed., April 18th.

The Ducks will finish the rest of April on the road, traveling next week to Arizona (Fri., April 20th) and Arizona State (Sat., April 21st-Sun., April 22nd).

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports