* Updated season/career stats are available via the link above, and to see preseason career game-by-game stats (PDF) click here.

• Key returnee for Ducks in 2013 after she posted two of Oregon's greatest offensive seasons among catchers the last two years. Also received the team's Defensive MVP honor as a freshman for her handling of one nation's top pitching staffs.

• As a sophomore in 2012, was again the team's top signal-caller, and one of its most consistent, and clutch hitters en route to All-WCWS, All-Region and Pac-12 honors.

• As a freshman in 2011, was one of team's top clutch hitters, and led the team in Pac-10 batting (.356) by .45 points after she hit safely in 11 of the last 13 games of the season (including the postseason).

• As a prep, was a two-time All-State First-Team infielder selection as a junior and senior. Showed her defensive versatility after she played catcher, infield and outfield for two of the state's top club teams, the Northwest Bullets and Oregon Panthers.

2012 SEASON (Sophomore) • All-World Series Tournament Team / All-Region Second Team / All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention.
Again provided a key bat for the Ducks in the postseason after a consistent season both at and behind the plate. After the team's second-ever trip to Oklahoma City, she was one of two Ducks rewarded with spots on the All-World Series Tournament Team with Samantha Pappas. In the team's three WCWS games, she ranked second overall in hitting (.429-tied) and on-base percentage (.556) among all World Series players, and also paced the Ducks in hits (3-tied) and walks (2). At season’s end, the team's Most Valuable Player award winner stood second on squad in hit by pitches (3), chances (318) and putouts (300); third in fielding percentage (.984); fourth in game-winning RBI (5); and fifth in batting (.323), total bases (78), RBI (35) and stolen bases (6). Among her game-winning RBI, the first came at Fresno State, a seventh-inning, two-out single up the middle on a 1-2 pitch. Others came at in the 12-7 finale at No. 14 Stanford (third-inning double) and at Utah (both second-inning singles in 9-0 and 11-1 wins). Among her 12 multi-hit games, she had a pair of hits in consecutive road games at No. 11 Arizona, No. 14 Stanford and in the Super Regional at #8 Texas. Logged a .984 fielding mark (300 putouts, 13 assists, 5 errors) and threw out seven baserunners. Also was a leader in the classroom for the Ducks with Capital One Academic All-District First Team and Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team honors.

2012 Season Highs
Runs scored:  2,  vs Boise State (3/28/12), vs Boise State (3/29/12)
Hits: 3, at Utah (4/15/12), vs Seattle (5/2/12)
RBIs:   4, vs Seattle (5/2/12)
Doubles: 1, 7 times, most recent vs #5 Tennessee (Jun 02/12)
Home runs: 1, 6 times, most recent vs Missouri (5/5/12)
Total bases:   7, vs Seattle (5/2/12)
Walks:  2, vs San Jose State (2/11/12), at Arizona (4/28/12)
Strikeouts:   2, vs Arizona State (3/31/12)
Sac hits:  1, vs #21 Oklahoma State (2/25/12), at #8 Texas (5/25/12)
Stolen bases:  1, 6 times, most recent vs #8 Texas (5/26/12)
Hit by pitch: 1,vs North Carolina (3/4/12), at Fresno State (3/9/12), vs Missouri (5/5/12)

2011 SEASON • All-Region Second Team / All-Pac-10 Freshman Team
In Pac-10 play, led the team in batting (.356), and ranked second overall in slugging (.525) and on-base percentage (.400), and started 20 of the 21 league tilts behind the plate. On team’s other overall season rankings, stood second on squad in hit by pitches (9), third in runs (31-tied) and batting (.344) and fourth in doubles (6) and multi-hit games (9). In Pac-10 rankings, stood sixth in hit by pitches (9-tied) and fifth in runners picked off (1). Ranked third all-time for UO in a game with her two home runs in 12-4 win over Nevada, also a team season high. Stood third on team in game-winning RBI (6) with her GW-RBI in wins vs. a pair of NCAA returnees, No. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette and North Carolina, and Ole Miss and Oregon State. Her final game-winner was a sixth-inning double at Penn State to break a scoreless tie in the regional finale. Connected on a season-high three hits twice. The first of those was a two-homer three-RBI game in win over Nevada (2/12). The other included a pair of doubles in the series finale win against Oregon State, helping the Ducks claim its first Civil War sweep since 1994 and third ever. Lifted Oregon to a 4-2 win in the finale over then-No. 10 Stanford after she went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored in the series finale and helped UO take it first series vs. the Cardinal since 2007. In the non-conference slate, also had an eight-game hitting streak in March. Defensively, she ended with a .982 fielding percentage (362 putouts, 25 assists, 7 errors), and threw out eight opposing runners attempting steals.

Prep: As a senior in 2010, the All-Mid Valley League and All-State First-Team shortstop hit .537 with a .875 slugging mark, and had eight doubles, two triples, five home runs, 36 RBI and 36 runs. Her South Salem prep squad advanced to the 2010 6A state playoffs second round and took second in the Central Valley Conference (17-5, 14-4). As a junior, the first-team all-state infielder hit .433 and had .617 slugging, .493 on-base and .933 fielding percentages, and was the All-Conference Player of the Year and a third-time All-Region pick. In 2009, South Salem won the league title and placed third in the state tournament. Was an all-state honorable mention pick at catcher as a sophomore and a second-team choice as a freshman at outfielder, respectively, and her freshman stats were equally impressive (.458, .792 slugging, .563 on-base, .977 fielding). In club action her senior season, she helped her Northwest Bullets team finish 3-3 in the Premier Girl's Fastpitch Tournament in Huntington Beach, and tied for third and fourth overall, respectively, in home runs (2) and doubles (3) en route to a .714 slugging mark. In the team's first elimination game in the event, she drilled two solo shots and added a third RBI on a single. Her Bullets Gold squad placed fifth nationally in the summer of ’09 and also qualified in '10. In three prior seasons, she played in the national tournament with the Oregon Panthers in the 2005 (12-U), and 2006 and '07 (16-U). Also lettered three seasons in basketball as a post player, and one season in both volleyball at outside hitter and water polo at goalie. Off the field, the class valedictorian was an all-state academic team pick, National Honor Society and Student Council member.

Personal: Communication Disorders and Sciences major. Parents are Steve and Tammy and has one younger sister, Madelynn.

PETERSON'S CAREER STATISTICS

Year   Avg  GP-GS   AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI  TB  SLG% BB HBP  OB% SF-SH SB-ATT  PO-A FLD%
2011  .344  52-48  122 31 42  6  0  5  18  63  .516 11  9  .434  1-4  7-9   362-25 .982
2012  .323  57-57  164 19 53  7  0  6  35  78  .476 17  3  .397  0-2  6-6   300-13 .984
TOTAL .332 109-105 286 50 95 13  0 11  53 141  .493 28  12 .413  1-6 13-15  662-38 .983

CAREER HIGHS
Hits: 3, 5 times
Doubles: 2, Oregon State, 4/23/11
Home runs: 2, vs Nevada, 2/18/11
Total bases: 9, vs Nevada, 2/18/11
RBI: 4, Seattle, 5/2/12
Runs scored: 3, vs Nevada, 2/18/11
Walks: 2, at Arizona, 4/28/12 ; vs BYU, 2/10/11 ; vs San Jose State, 2/11/12
Hit by pitch: 1, 12 times
Sac flies: 1, at Washington, 4/3/11
Sac bunts: 1, 6 times
At bats: 4, 14 times
Stolen bases: 1, 13 times
Field chances: 15, Alabama, 3/13/12
Putouts: 15, Alabama, Mar 13, 2012
Assists: 3, UCLA, May 14, 2011 ; Texas, 5/26/12
Runners CS: 2, vs Louisiana-Lafayette, 3/5/11

FUN FACTS & MY FAVORITES
Nicknames: Lex, Little Grape
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Stuffed Animal: My Winnie the Pooh
Pets Growing Up: German Short-haired pointer named Sarie
If I got a Tattoo, it Would be of: Galations 5:22 and Philippians 4:13
Favorite Saying/Motto: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Favorite Hobbies: Sleeping, paintballing, skiing, camping, watching Friends with my roommate
Personal Hero: My mom
When I was a Little Kid I Wanted to be a: WNBA player
Current Intended Career Profession: Elementary school speech pathologist
Favorite College Class: Educational Studies-Child and Family Issues
If I Could Have Dinner With Anybody: Jesus
First Car: 1992 Honda Civic LX
Favorite Place I've Visited: Kauai
Place I'd Most Like to Travel to: Caribbean
Favorite Place on Campus: Howe Field
Favorite Entre/Dish: Smoked Salmon
Favorite Ice Cream: Mint Chocolate Chip
Favorite Snack: Oreos and milk
Favorite Pizza Toppings: Pepperoni w/ pineapple
Favorite Drink: Orange juice
Favorite Type of Food: Mexican
Favorite Movie: Inception, The Hangover, The Notebook
Favorite Actor: Matthew McConaughy
Favorite Actress: Rachel McAdams
Favorite TV Comedy: Friends, The Office
Favorite TV Drama: Lost
Favorite Singer or Band/CD: Keith Urban
Favorite Book: Apolo Ohno's Zero Regrets
Dream Job: Fighter Jet Pilot in the AirForce
Biggest Fan: My grandparents
Favorite Pro Sports Team: San Francisco Giants
Favorite Elite Softball Player: Jennie Finch
Your Most Embarrassing Athletic Moment: My junior year of high school, it was tradition to do a chest bump with our teammate Sara after we touched home plate when we hit a homerun. I hit my first one of the season and I chest bumped too softly and she knocked me to the ground in front of the whole crowd.
Superstitions before games/practice: Pray during the National Anthem.
Favorite Oregon Athlete in a Different Sport: Shannon Propst, Lacrosse
If I Didn't Play Softball, I Would Play: Basketball or Waterpolo

Q&A: PETERSON ON THE OREGON DIFFERENCE

Q: How long have you been a Duck fan or wanted to come to Oregon?

AP: "I have been a Duck fan my whole life. Although I never specifically pictured myself going to Oregon, I had always dreamed of playing Pac-10 ball, so when I found out Oregon was interested in me, I was excited I was able to stay in the Pac-10."


Q: When you talk to others about how you love being a Duck, what are the first things you talk about?

AP: "I love the intensity of the coaches. They are all extremely knowledgeable and are always pushing you to reach higher than you thought possible. The training facilities are another big reason for why I love it here. We have probably one of the best treatment facilities and personnel in the country, and have a well-equipped weight room with great one-on-one coaching for lifting and conditioning."


Q: Besides athletics, what things initially attracted you to the University?

AP: "One of the things that initially attracted me was the blue-prints for the John E. Jaqua Center which was under construction. Academics are a top priority for me, and so when I saw the virtual tour of how the Jaqua center would be built, I was in awe. Not only is it beautifully constructed, I also realized how great of an opportunity I have to thrive academically with the tutors for every class, structured studyhall hours, and our team academic advisor."


Q: What things do you remember from your Oregon recruiting trip?

AP: "It was great touring the campus and facilities. My Junior Day visit after I had committed I loved going out to dinner with the team. On my official visit, going to the football game was awesome, especially going down on the field for pre-game. I also was able to stay two nights with some of my teammates in their house, which was a lot of fun as well."


Q: In what ways does playing in the Pac-10 Conference prepare you to be your best?

AP: "It is a very special privilege to play in the nation's top conference, one that I did not fully understand until I started my first practice here. When I stepped off the field after our first practice in September, I realized this is the real deal. Its not high school ball or summer ball anymore. I am playing on a team in the best softball conference in the United States, there is no messing around. I have found a new drive to excel and a renewed passion for the game that I never knew was there. Not only does this high level of play push you to achieve what you never thought possible and help you reach your highest potential athletically, it shapes you into an all around better person that will stay with you the rest of your life."


Q: What are some of the things that the coaches emphasized in the recruiting process?

AP: "They want players are fully committed and willing to give 110% every day on the field and in the classroom. They don't want players that they are going to have to constantly hound academically all four years."


Q: What are the special parts about playing in a college town like Eugene?

AP: "The entire town revolves around  Oregon sports. Thousands of fans come to Duck events and bleed green and yellow. The children look to the athletes as if they're professional athletes, so we are their role models. Because the spotlight is on us, this encourages athletes to continue impacting the lives of children and make sure we are good examples on and off the field."


Q: Talk about the team’s chemistry, and what sets it apart from other programs?

AP: "We have really taken a second look at who we are as team and family. We survived a lot of physically and mentally strenuous practices and workouts that I know no other program is doing, and thus we have come out stronger and more connected than we were at the beginning of fall."


Q: Describe Coach White’s mission statement or general philosophy to being successful, both as a team and as an individual.

AP: "Coach introduced an acronym to represent our season and program as a whole. The word P.R.I.D.E helps us to remember what we need in order to be successful as a team. P= Preparation, make sure that we are doing everything we can in the off season and in practice to get us ready for games. R=Respect, we need to respect our coaches, teammates, teachers, and anyone else we come in contact with. We need to especially respect each others' differences on the team in order to stay together. I=Intangibles, push your limits, and go outside your comfort zone to see how great you can become, make the impossible, possible. D=Discipline, we need to control our impulses, emotions, and behavior regardless of obstacles, or discomfort that arise with our eyes on our goal we want to achieve. And E=Execution, in the end, we need to execute during games, after preparing ourselves this much, it really comes down to just getting the job done."


Q: When you work with him, what elements of her coaching style do you appreciate the most?

AP: "I appreciate that he is so knowledgeable in all aspects of the game, especially in hitting and pitching. And although I'm not a pitcher, I appreciate that he uses his skills to really improve our pitching staff. He is able to demonstrate with perfection how to throw any pitch and is easily able to see in a split-second how a pitcher needs to change their mechanics and then communicate these changes well with each player. Coach White also is able to replicate the spins, movement, and speed of any pitcher that we face, which is a huge bonus because it helps our offense get an idea of what were going to see in the batters box."


Q: Oregon’s state-of-the art facilities are a big thing in the recruiting process – what were your impressions of various ones?

AP: "The facilities are much more impressive than most of the other colleges I visited and did have a profound impact on my decision."


Q: Are there other unique elements in the University of Oregon athletic department that you didn’t find anywhere else?

AP: "The nutrition staff are very educated and know how to keep our bodies in top shape by teaching us positive eating, sleeping, and recovery routines. This is very beneficial to each of us and helps prepare us for healthy life-long habits as well."


Q: What’s your major, and what led you to pick it?

AP: "I am majoring in Communication Disorders and Sciences with a minor in Spanish. I want to be an elementary school speech pathologist. I chose this major because I really love working with kids and want the opportunity to make a difference in childrens' lives. The need for speech pathologists is expected to increase about 17% in the next ten years and having a minor in Spanish will also make me even more valuable."


Q: What extra academic resources do you take advantage of, and how do they help you be your best in the classroom?

AP: "In my harder classes, I meet with my tutors twice a week instead of once. I also spend as much time as I possibly can, in the Jaqua Center's quiet computer lab and frequently stay there until it closes, so I won't get distracted by being in my dorm room."


Q: Do you have a special pride to wearing the ‘O’, and why?

AP: "I am honored and have an immense amount of pride in wearing the "O". The Oregon O is nationally recognized, and I feel it is my responsibility to represent our university with respect and integrity in athletics, academics and in the community."

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