Chaput, Rice Lead Ducks to Split in Tempe Tourney

Lovena Chaput was 3-for-6 with a home run on Friday in Tempe, Ariz. Photo: goducks.com

TEMPE, Ariz. - The University of Oregon softball team bounced back from a tight 2-1 defeat against the Florida Gators in its season opener to blank Long Beach State, 3-0, on Friday at the 2007 Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State.

Junior left fielder Lovena Chaput hit a two-run homer in the nightcap and sophomore right-hander Melissa Rice tossed 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball to lift the Ducks (1-1) over the 49ers (0-1).

Freshman right fielder Neena Bryant led off the top of the 2nd with a double to left center that ate up the shortstop and rolled all the way to the fence.

Chaput followed with a towering shot that was gone as soon as it hit the bat.

Oregon tacked on an insurance run on a sacrifice fly in the 3rd.

Rice (1-0) took a no-hitter into the bottom of the 5th before junior catcher Brooke LeSage connected on a one-out single to left.

A single and a two-out error by the Ducks in the bottom of the seventh brought the potential tying run to the plate for LBSU, chasing Rice.

Junior righty Alicia Cook came on to coax a lazy fly ball to left and record her first save of the season.

In the opener, Florida (1-0) plated single runs in the second and third innings and let sophomore hurler Stacey Nelson do the rest.

The impressive right-hander scattered four hits and one walk while striking out 10 for the complete-game victory.

Cook (0-1) went the distance for the Ducks, allowing five hits and one walk to go with five punch-outs.

Chaput again was the offensive star for Oregon, going 2-of-3. Senior second baseman Suzie Barnes went 1-for-2 and scored UO’s lone run, coming home on a sacrifice fly by freshman shortstop Jennifer Stalling in the top of the 6th.

The Ducks continue tournament play on Saturday, facing Cal State Northridge at 9:00 AM followed by Syracuse at 11:00 AM.

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