No. 17 Oregon Blanks No. 23 Georgia, 6-0

Duck sophomore starting pitcher Melissa Rice raised her record to 10-1 on the season.

Suzi Barnes hit her first homer of the season, a 3-run right field shot off the scoreboard. Photo: goducks.com

HONOLULU - The University of Oregon softball team celebrated a 6-0 shutout of No. 23 Georgia Sunday in the championship game of the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Invitational and raised its record to 20-2 on the season.

UO senior second baseman Suzi Barnes hit her first home run of the season -- a three-run shot off the right field scoreboard in the second inning -- to put the Ducks up 5-0, and senior designated player Ann Marie Topps added a solo shot in the fourth inning for the Ducks’ final run.

On the mound, Duck sophomore starting pitcher Melissa Rice raised her record to 10-1 on the season and in the shutout win gave up six hits, no walks and had nine strikeouts.

During the tourney, the Colbert, Wash., native went 3-1 with four complete games and one shutout, and allowed only two earned runs in 29 2/3 innings and notched 23 strikeouts.

The Ducks got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Topps singled in Barnes with one out and freshman shortstop Jen Salling also scored on the same play on an error by the leftfielder.

The Bulldogs’ greatest challenge came just before in the top of first inning.

Lead-off hitter Charvi Greer singled to shortstop and stole second, and UGA’s third and fourth hitters also reached to load the bases with one out. Rice responded by forcing catcher Melissa Wood to hit into a double play.

UGA again looked to get on the scoreboard in the second inning when first baseman Christine Hamilton opened with a double down the right field line.

With one out, she advanced to third on a single by designated player Kacey Coonce, who promptly stole second base in the next at bat to put runners on second and third.

Rice answered by striking out left fielder Victoria Sanders swinging, and then forced the leadoff batter Greer into a grounder to Salling at shortstop.

Georgia lost to the Ducks for the second time in the tournament and dropped to 15-8 on the season.

Bulldog starter Kasi Carroll pitched 1 1/3 innings and gave up four hits, five runs, walked one and had two strikeouts.

Reliever Christie Hamilton went the final 4 2/3 innings and allowed three hits, one run, walked one and struck out three.

Oregon finished the four-day tourney 5-1 after wins over round robin wins over No. 23 Georgia (5-0) and No. 25 Hawaii (7-1) Thursday; an extra inning win vs. Kent State (1-0) and extra inning loss to St. Mary’s (2-1) Friday; and a first round championship bracket win vs. St. Mary’s (10-1) Saturday.

At the plate for the Ducks in the five games in Hawaii, three Duck starters hit over .400 for the trip -- junior Joanna Gail (6-13, 3 doubles, 1 home run, 6 walks, 3 RBI), Topps (8-19, 1 double, 1 home run, 1 walk, 5 RBI) and Salling (6-15, 4 walks, 3 RBI).

On the mound, opposing batters hit only .130 combined against the Rice and Cook who sported a 0.31 ERA and allowed only two earned runs in 44 2/3 innings.

The duo also struck out 30 and walked 16 in the same span.

Looking ahead, Oregon next travels to the Eller Media Stadium Classic in Las Vegas, Thu-Sat. March 8th-10th.

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