Oregon Softball looks to chomp the Gators for the top spot in the nation
On Saturday the team’s 14 game win streak came to an end in Waco against a then #7 ranked Baylor, but this comes after beating the Bears on Friday. That is not the only top 25 team the Ducks beat this preseason; other victories in the southern heat included #22 Texas A&M and #25 Texas. The big test for this team however, and likely the most anticipated game in NCAA softball, will be at the San Diego Classic this Friday where Oregon will face #1 Florida.
Florida is currently undefeated after 16 games, but it is worth mentioning all these wins have come against unranked opponents. The Gators’ trip to San Diego will be their first time playing out of Florida this year; their match-up against Oregon will also be against their first ranked opponent. It sets the stage for the Ducks to make a big statement to the nation before the regular season. A win would likely clear the way for a first place ranking.
As has been the case in years past, Oregon softball again boasts a strong batting order. The team has outscored opponents 112-30 in the month of February. Janie Takeda, Koral Costa and Alyssa Gillespie have performed as expected as the team’s top returners, combining for nine homeruns, six doubles and 47 hits total. The sweetest surprise, however, has been the coming out party for freshman Jenna Lilley.
The newcomer from Ohio was the #1 ranked recruit out of high school, and has made a nice addition to the batting order in the power three spot. Lilley recently swept national honors as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, USA Softball and Pac-12 Player of the Week. The freshman phenome leads the team in three hitting categories: batting average (.510), runs (18) and doubles (six). Against No. 25 ranked Tulsa, she drove in all four runs in the Ducks’ 4-1 victory.
Aside from Lilley, the squad has 10 players hitting over .300 and are expected to put Florida ace Lauren Haeger (8-0, .34 ERA) to the test. In fact, the entire Gator bullpen is a force to be reckoned with, only giving up eight earned runs and combining for a menacing .58 ERA.
The Oregon bullpen is fearsome in its own. Junior Cheridan Hawkins has already made two NCAA Super Regional appearances, and has started this year off with a 5-1 record. Hawkins has boasted a .40 ERA, despite giving up her first loss on Saturday. Even with the loss, she was still named pitcher of the week by the NFCA following the Baylor Classic. Hawkins’ supporting cast includes Karissa Hovinga, who saw significant time last season as the #2 pitcher.
Also seeing significant time in the circle is junior transfer Geri Ann Glasco. Glasco joins the Ducks after spending two seasons at Georgia. The right-hander threw in 29 games for the Bulldogs for a 2.53 ERA and 16-5 record. She has already pitched 26.2 innings (compared to Hovinga’s 24.2), so may be a third factor coming out of the bullpen for the Ducks – a team that hasn’t always boasted pitching depth. Glasco also serves as a utility player and proved primarily a hitting threat for Georgia with 10 HRs and 42 RBIs.
The Ducks have the San Diego Classic and Judy Garman Classic ahead, putting nine games between now and the team’s home-opener at Howe Field, March 13. A win against #1 Florida this Friday, however, could shake up the national rankings and have fans welcoming home the top national contender in just a matter of weeks.
