Oregon Softball: Game 2 vs Minnesota Recap

The Softball team was looking to secure the series victory over Minnesota on Saturday in game 2 of the weekend series. After a game 1 drubbing in which Oregon won via the run rule game 2 would prove to be much more dramatic.

Before the game even got started the Ducks got some great news as Emma Cox returned to the starting lineup for the first time in over 6 weeks.

Oregon’s bats weren’t able to get a lot going in the first two innings of the game, luckily Elise Sokolsky was also on her game early as well holding the Gophers scoreless for the first two innings.

In the top of the 3rd the Ducks looked like they were going to put a big inning together when Kaylynn Jones lead off with a triple and Kai Luschar followed that up with a walk and a steal to get two runners into scoring position with no outs. Unfortunately the Ducks would strand the two runners after a groundout fielders choice, pop up, and fly out to end the inning.

Instead it was Minnesota who would strike first in the 3rd inning with a 2 run home run. 2-0 Gophers after 3.

The Ducks bats continued to struggle into the 4th inning and Oregon was very uncharacteristically held off the score sheet.

After a Gophers lead off single in the bottom half of the 4th Lyndsay Grein came on in relief of Elise Sokolsky and ensured the Gophers lead would only stay at 2.

In the top half of the 5th Kaylynn Jones once again lead off the inning with a Triple but once again she would get stranded on 3rd after the Ducks lineup couldn’t get a big hit to drive her in.

In the bottom half of the 5th inning the Gophers would threaten getting two runners on but once again Lyndsay Grein was able to prevent them from scoring to keep the lid on the game.

Into the 6th inning and the Ducks finally were able to get that big hit. After Oregon got runners on the corners Emma Cox delivered a huge RBI Double to score Ayanna Shaw.

With two outs and the bases loaded Kai Luschar came up big with a clutch hit to tie the game at 2. The Ducks couldn’t score any more runs to take the lead but they were finally on the board.

In the Gophers half of the 6th Minnesota was trying to play some small ball to get the lead back, but a failed bunt attempt and a miraculous Rylee McCoy diving catch would thwart their attempt to try and manufacture a run. Giving the Ducks the chance to take the lead in the 7th.

Where Minnesota failed Oregon was successful in playing some small ball. Katie Flannery got the squeeze bunt down to score Presley Lawton to give the Ducks their first lead of the game. A throwing error would allow the Ducks to score another run and then Emma Cox was able to hit a strong enough fly ball to score Katie Flannery from 3rd on the sacrifice fly.

That run would end up being massive as in the 7th the Gophers would mount a rally of their own. After a Gophers RBI double cut the Oregon lead to 2 Elise Sokolsky re-entered the game to relieve Lyndsay Grein with the tying run in scoring position. Sokolsky would get a huge strikeout and the Ducks were one out away from a win. Minnesota would get a clutch hit of their own to cut the Oregon lead to one with one out remaining.

With runners on the corners and the tying run on 3rd base Minnesota grounded out to second and the Ducks defense was able to secure the win with no room to spare.

The Ducks will go for the series sweep on Sunday at 10AM as they look to keep pace with UCLA at the top of the Big Ten Standings.