Oregon Softball Takes on Fordham in NCAA Regional Tournament
Eugene, OR- Up to bat, Oregon will swing and hits the game straight out of the park. After winning the team’s fourth straight outright Pac-12 Championship title, Oregon softball will compete in the NCAA Regionals in their own Jane Sanders Stadium this weekend.
This will be Oregon’s first postseason in their brand new 17 million dollar stadium. Oregon earned the No. 5 overall seed in the tournament and will host Baylor, Long Beach State and Fordham. If Oregon pulls off a win against Fordham Rams, it will be the team’s third consecutive year in the Women’s College World Series.
This will be the 18th straight year the Ducks have advanced to the regionals and the team’s fifth straight time hosting. Oregon will face Fordham at 8:30 pm Friday night to start off their regionals competition. This is the second time Oregon will face Fordham in regional play, previously winning 2-0 in 2011 in the State College (PA) regional. The Ducks are 3-0 all-time against Fordham, with their last face off being in 2014.
Fordham brings in hot competition after winning against No. 5, Saint Joseph’s and taking the Atlantic 10 Conference crown for the 10th straight year. Their overall record currently sits at 39-19.
Rams pitcher and grad student Rachel Gillen will challenge Oregon senior pitcher Cheridan Hawkins’ excellence in this series. Gillen has earned many individual titles, including Most Outstanding Player of the Atlantic 10 Championship.
Gillen’s record of 24-9 and her ERA of 2.33 is ranked fourth in the conference. Hawkins has the edge with an ERA of 2.02, multiple titles and experience competing on the USA National team.
Oregon’s Sammie Puentes outfielder, “rolled her wrist” last week in practice. If Puentes’ plays, her .489 on-base percentage will be an asset to pulling off a series win against Fordham.
If Oregon pulls out a win, it will be the team’s third consecutive year in the Women’s College World Series. If you can’t make it to Jane Sanders on Friday turn in to ESPN 2 to catch the action. First pitch is set for 8:30 p.m.
