Rice Hurls Oregon Past Miami (Ohio), 5-0

Freshman shortstop Jennifer Salling hit her fourth home run of the season.

Melissa Rice is 11-2 after blanking Miami (Ohio) on Friday in Las Vegas. Photo: goducks.com

LAS VEGAS - Sophomore right-hander Melissa Rice twirled a three-hit shutout, lifting the No. 15 University of Oregon softball team to a 5-0 win over Miami (Ohio) in Friday’s late game at the 2007 Eller Media Stadium Classic hosted by UNLV.

Rice (11-2) was on top of her game, striking out seven and walking one to help Oregon improve to 23-3 overall and 3-1 at the tournament.

The Ducks used an 11-hit attack, led by freshman Blair Williamson’s 3-for-3 outing.

The rookie, who was making only her second start of the season, has hit safely in all four games in Las Vegas and raised her season average to .591.

Freshman shortstop Jennifer Salling hit her fourth home run of the season and junior third baseman Joanna Gail was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs.

Freshman hurler Meredith Linch took the loss for the Redhawks (6-9). She was chased with two out in the fifth after allowing five runs on 11 hits.

Gail put the Ducks on top 1-0 in the top of the second, driving home senior designated player Ann Marie Topps from third with a two-out base hit to left.

In the third, Williamson reached on an error by the shortstop and advanced to third on a double by senior second baseman Suzie Barnes, giving the Ducks second and third with no one out.

Linch bore down and struck out the next two batters before inducing Topps to pop out to shortstop to end the threat.

Oregon increased the lead to 2-0 in the fourth when junior first baseman Kristi Leiter doubled over the center fielder’s head and scored on a base hit to left by junior catcher Amy Morris.

Salling went deep in the fifth, a towering shot to straight away center that cleared 240 feet. UO tacked on two more runs in the inning to put the game out of reach.

Oregon wraps up play in the tourney on Saturday with a game against Longwood University at 3:45 PM.

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