Ducks Rally Back, Defeat No. 22 Kentucky

Friday, February 17

Cathedral City, Calif.

12:30 PM

University of Oregon

7-0

Kentucky

5-4

Oregon

Kentucky

Photo by: Andy McNamara/GoDucks.com

02/17/17 | Softball

Box Score

Nikki Udria homered in the seventh to break a 4-4 tie and the Ducks defeated No. 22 Kentucky on Friday afternoon.

By: Joe Waltasti

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – The No. 9 ranked Oregon softball team rallied back from three runs down to defeat No. 22 Kentucky, 5-4, on Friday afternoon at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

Oregon (7-0) is still undefeated on the season with a pair of top-25 wins.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Ducks got on the board first when second baseman Lauren Lindvall smacked a two-out single in the second to drive in Danica Mercado.
Kentucky got the run back quickly, however, scoring on its own RBI single in the bottom of the second.

The game remaining a 1-1 tie until the bottom of the fifth. Kentucky scored three runs on two hits and an Oregon error to take a 4-1 lead.

The Ducks didn't need much time to even up the game once again, however. Freshman Mia Camuso started the sixth inning with a single and made her way to third on a Mercado single with one out. Lindvall was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Freshman Shannon Rhodes, who entered the game earlier as a pinch hitter, single to left to drive in a run. On the same play, the Kentucky left field booted the ball for an error and threw the ball out of play as the Ducks scored twice more to tie the game, 4-4, on the pair of errors.

Oregon broke the 4-4 tie in the top of the seventh when Nikki Udria, an All-American a season ago, homered over the fence in right center.
In the bottom of the seventh, Kentucky had runners at first and second with two outs but Maggie Balint got a strikeout to end it and give the Ducks the win.

IN THE CIRCLE: Maggie Balint picked up her fifth win of the young season after coming in to relieve starter Megan Kleist. Kleist allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in four innings with two strikeouts. Balint allowed two runs on three hits in two innings with two strikeouts.

AT THE PLATE: Danica Mercado led the Ducks with three hits as Oregon tallied 11 hits in the game.

UP NEXT: The Ducks face Kent State later today at the Mary Nutter Classic.