University of Oregon
17-0
Missouri
9-7
Ducks Edge No. 24 Tigers for 17th Straight
03/04/17 | Softball
NO. 4 OREGON TAKES DOWN NO. 24 MISSOURI, 7-2, FOR 17TH STRAIGHT WIN BEHIND 4 RBIS FROM LAUREN LINDVALL
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The fourth-ranked Oregon softball team remained undefeated with its 17th-straight win on Saturday night, taking down No. 24 Missouri, 7-2, at Mizzou Stadium to extend its best start to a season in school history.
The Ducks (17-0) are now one win shy of matching the program record for consecutive games won (2007, 16), and are 3-0 to start the Mizzou Invitational with a pair of wins over the ranked Tigers (9-7). Oregon faces a quick turnaround as it goes for its school record-tying 18th win in a row against Butler in the nightcap of the second day of the tournament.
How it Happened: Oregon scored in the first inning for the sixth-straight game to open up a 1-0 lead on the Tigers. Danica Mercado roped a one-out single to center and then stole second, and Nikki Udria singled up the middle to score her.
The Ducks capitalized on a Missouri error to add two more runs in the second, with Lauren Lindvall driving in the first with a single to right field. A dropped fly ball in center field off the bat of Madi Bishop gave the Ducks a runner at second with no outs, and Lindvall brought in pinch-runner Haley Cruse with the base hit. Gwen Svekis followed a walk and another Mercado hit with an RBI single to left.
Missouri fought back against UO starter Megan Kleist (6-0) in the fourth inning with a pair of runs to pull within a run, 3-2. After two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out, an RBI groundout put the Tigers on the board and Kolby Romaine cut the Oregon lead to one with an RBI single to right. Kleist stranded the tying and go-ahead runs on base, inducing a popout to Udria at short to end the inning.
Lindvall answered for the Ducks in the fifth with a big blow to provide some insurance for Kleist, ripping a three-run home run to left field to push Oregon's lead to 6-2. Mercado followed three batters later with an RBI single to give the Ducks a five-run lead.
In the Circle: Kleist struggled with her command at times, but still posted a solid outing to earn her sixth win of the year. Kleist allowed just two runs on five hits while striking out one and walking a career-high five batters in a complete-game effort, her fourth of the season.
At the Plate: Lindvall paced the Ducks with a season-high four RBIs, going 2-for-4 with her second home run of the season. Mercado raised her season average to an even .500 with a 3-for-4 day and an RBI, and Svekis and Udria each drove in a run while going 1-for-4. Jenna Lilley finished 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.
Notable: Mercado extended her team-best hitting streak to 12 games, while Udria pushed her hitting streak to 11 games and Svekis stretched hers to nine … The Ducks have now scored in the first inning in their last six games … Missouri's first hit of the game in the fourth was the first Kleist surrendered in 8.2 innings.
Up Next: The Ducks will wrap the second day of the Mizzou Tournament against Butler.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kleist, Megan (6-0)
L: Madi Norman (5-3)
Batting:
HR: Lindvall, Lauren 1
RBI: Mercado, Danica 1 ; Svekis, Gwen 1 ; Udria, Nikki 1 ; Lindvall, Lauren 4
SH: Mack, Alexis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mack, Alexis 1 ; Mercado, Danica 1 ; Lilley, Jenna 1 ; Bishop, Madi 1 ; Cruse, Haley 1 ; Lindvall, Lauren 1 ; Rhodes, Shannon 1
SB: Mercado, Danica 2
CS: Lindvall, Lauren 1
Batting:
2B: Rylee Pierce 1
RBI: Cayla Kessinger 1 ; Kolby Romaine 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Amanda Sanchez 1 ; Kirsten Mack 1
SB: Kolby Romaine 1
