New Stadium, Same Banner
Last Thursday, the Oregon Ducks softball team held its fourth consecutive Pac-12 Championship trophy high in the team’s brand new Jane Sanders Stadium after beating the Utah Utes, 5-1. Senior Cheridan Hawkins pitched a complete game while senior Geri Ann Glasco had an explosive offensive performance, going 3-3 from the plate with 2 RBIs.
“I’m really happy for the seniors, to win a ring and a championship all four years. It is unbelievable,” commemorates Mike White after the team’s victory. The eight seniors on the team have only lost two total Pac-12 series during their time here at Oregon.
“I’m never going to be a part of another Pac-12 championship again. It was neat to see the crowd on its feet,” senior Koral Costa reflected.
Oregon would fall to Utah the following day, 3-2. Freshman Megan Kleist allowed seven hits in 5.1 innings, which would put three runs, two of which were unearned, on the board. Utah pitcher Katie Donovan held the Ducks to five hits the entire game. This loss ended Oregon’s 17-game winning streak.
On Saturday, the tides would turn once more and the team would take the series win against the Utes in the Ducks’ last regular season game of the season. Cheridan Hawkins would play another full game for her team and picked up seven more strikeouts. Offensively, sophomore Jenna Lilley hit a two-run single in the fifth inning to clinch the win.
The Ducks were named No. 5 overall seed in the NCAA championships Sunday night. The team will host Baylor, Long Beach State and Fordham in the Eugene regional at Jane Sanders Stadium this Friday.
Interview snippet courtesy of goducks.com
