Pac-10 Softball: 10th-Ranked Oregon Evens Civil War with 4-3 Victory

Oregon’s win also breaks the Beavers’ winning streak over the Ducks, which had grown to the last eight meetings.

Sophomore Sari-Jane Jenkins produced the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the eighth. Photo: goducks.com

EUGENE - For the second straight game, 17th-ranked Oregon State erased 10th-ranked Oregon’s early lead, but on Saturday the Ducks prevailed and evened the Civil War series with a 4-3 victory in eight innings at Howe Field.

Oregon improves to 37-5 and 3-2 in the Pacific-10 Conference, while Oregon State drops to 29-12 and 3-2 in the Pac-10.

Sophomore Sari-Jane Jenkins provided the game-winning RBI single in the eighth with a hard-hit line drive that scored junior Amie Morris.

It was Morris who kept the eighth alive for the Ducks, drawing a walk after Oregon State’s Brianne McGowan retired the first two batters.

The senior, who was victorious on Friday, struggled with her control, hitting senior Suzie Barnes to put runners on first and second for Jenkins.

The winner of the yearly Civil War between Oregon and Oregon State will now come to down the deciding series game on Wed., April 25 in Corvallis.

Oregon’s win also breaks the Beavers’ winning streak over the Ducks, which had grown to the last eight meetings.

Junior Alicia Cook improved to 18-1 on the year for the Ducks, earning the win after pitching two innings in relief of starter Melissa Rice.

McGowan (18-7) took the loss for the Beavers, allowing the game-winning run in 1.2 innings of relief for Oregon State starter Ta’Tyana McElroy.

Similar to Friday’s game, Oregon State erased a three-run deficit in the top of the seventh, and the Ducks left two runners on in the bottom of the inning to move the game into extra innings.

It was the first time the Civil War had reached extra innings since May 15, 1999. Oregon State was victorious 2-1 in 10 innings.

Rice pitched six perfect innings before walking Mia Longfellow and surrendering a single to Natalie Johnson in the top of the seventh, giving way to Cook

The Beavers then put their first run on the scoreboard by way of Brianne McGowan’s sacrifice fly, but the real damage was done when Stefanie Ewing produced the game-tying runs with a two-run homer to center field.

It was freshman Neena Bryant who had put the Ducks ahead 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out, two-run double of the wall in left center.

Barnes first reached base for Oregon with a single to left, and Jenkins then took first after catcher’s interference was called on Ewing.

Ann Marie Topps was walked to load the bases for Bryant, who tallied her ninth double of the season.

Oregon took the first lead of the game when Barnes led off the game with a walk.

The Pac-10’s steals leader made her way to third and into scoring position for the conference’s RBI leader, freshman Jenn Salling.

With the count full, Salling delivered a stand-up double down the right field line to score the Ducks’ first run of the contest.

Oregon continues its five-week stretch at Howe Field, hosting Washington (Fri,. April 13th) and UCLA (Sat.-Sun., April 14th-15th) next weekend.

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