Oregon's Rice Named Pac-10 Softball Pitcher of the Week

Opponents are hitting just .164 against Rice.

Melissa Rice was named Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week after a 3-0 perfomance over the weekend. Photo: goducks.com

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Oregon sophomore Melissa Rice has been named the Pac-10 Softball Pitcher of the Week for Mar. 20th-26th, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced Tuesday.

Rice made three starts over the weekend, going 3-0 to help the Ducks roll through a pair of double-headers against Idaho State and Utah Valley State.

Oregon won by the mercy-rule in each of the four games and allowed a total of two runs.

On Saturday, Rice fired a one-hitter against the Bengals of Idaho State in the day’s second game. She walked none and struck out seven in a five-inning shutout.

Next time out, Rice went the first four innings of another five-inning Oregon win, again giving up just a solitary base hit with no walks and four strikeouts as the Ducks hammered Utah Valley State, 10-1.

Rice returned to the circle for the day’s second outing, this time cruising through six strong innings, allowing one run on four hits with one strikeout in a 9-1 Oregon victory.

For the week, Rice threw 15.0 innings, allowing just one run (0.46 ERA) and six hits, while striking out 12 and not issuing a single free pass. She improved her record to 17-2 with a Pac-10 leading 0.68 ERA.

Opponents are hitting just .164 against Rice, the fourth-best mark in the Conference.

No. 13 Oregon (34-3) will look to carry its sterling play into league competition, as California (3:00 PM, Mar. 30th) and Stanford (1:00 PM, Mar. 31st-Apr. 1st) visit Eugene, Ore., for the opening weekend of Pac-10 play.

This is Rice’s first career Pitcher of the Week honor and the 28th Player/Pitcher of the Week award all-time for Oregon.

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