Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Familiar Foe Awaits Ducks In WCWS Opener
06/01/17 | Softball, @GoDucksMoseley
Oregon opens play in the Women's College World Series against rival Washington on Thursday (4 p.m. PT, ESPN2).
OKLAHOMA CITY — As a freshman making her first trip to the Women's College World Series in 2015, Oregon third baseman Jenna Lilley recalls being awestruck.
The Ducks opened play at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium that year against Pac-12 rival UCLA. But before she could even think about the opponent, Lilley had to contend with the emotions of playing on American softball's most hallowed grounds, with an NCAA championship at stake.
On Thursday, the Ducks again open Women's College World Series play against a Pac-12 foe, this time Washington (4 p.m. PT, ESPN2). The UO softball team practiced Wednesday at the USA Softball complex, and not only is that now familiar territory to Lilley and the other upperclassman, the presence of a conference rival in the opening game only adds to their comfort level.
"Freshman year we were like, 'Whoa, we're at the World Series, this is so different,'" Lilley said prior to practice Wednesday, between interviews with the ESPN crew broadcasting the tournament. "Now, this is like another regular-season game — except it's postseason, at the World Series. When you take that into respect, that you're playing someone you played three times in the regular season, it takes away that shock of, 'We're playing at the World Series.'"
The Ducks (52-6) are facing a Pac-12 team in their WCWS opener for the third time in four trips under head coach Mike White. Oregon faced Arizona State in its 2012 opener, and the Bruins in 2015, in between opening with Florida State in 2014.
Oregon has actually known for more than a week it would open with a conference rival, were the Ducks to reach OKC; Washington faced Utah in the Super Regional round. Oregon-Washington is one of three intra-conference matchups to open the Women's College World Series on Thursday, the others featuring LSU and Texas A&M of the SEC, and Oklahoma and Baylor of the Big 12.
Some coaches Wednesday expressed interest in re-bracketing the tournament after Super Regionals in future years, to avoid conference matchups where possible. But nobody who fought their way to Oklahoma City is complaining too loudly.
"I'd much rather be (facing a conference rival) here, than not be here," White said. "It is what it is, and we've just got to go out and make the most of the opportunity."
There was very nearly a fourth Pac-12 team to reach the WCWS, until Baylor went on the road to upset Arizona in the Super Regionals. Given the strength and depth of the conference, UW coach Heather Tarr said, postseason showdowns are inevitable.
"I think it's awesome to see the greatness rise to the top," Tarr said. "Eventually you're going to run into each other if you're doing a good job. It's a game, and we all get to play, and see what we've got when it matters."
For Lilley, the matchup will be particularly familiar — she was a high school rival and club teammate of UW pitcher Taran Alvelo. But the entire UO roster faced Washington less than two months ago, a three-game series in which the Huskies took two.
Oregon sophomore Megan Kleist earned a complete-game victory in Oregon's 4-1 win in the second game of that series. Kleist then took the loss in relief in the rubber match, in which UW rallied in the seventh to force extra innings, then won in nine.
But Kleist is coming off the best game of her career, a three-hit shutout of Kentucky in the Super Regional opener. And she, too, seems comfortable facing the Huskies again in the postseason.
"In my mind I've just been picturing it as, we're going to Washington to play Washington, because we're away (from home)," Kleist said. "I think it's really helping me, personally, to play Washington the first game, because it does take away that, 'Wow, we're in Oklahoma City.' It's just another game."
Kleist dominated Kentucky by leaning on her dropball and mixing in an effective changeup. But she usually features a riseball as well, and doesn't expect to leave it in her back pocket this week in the World Series.
"Just showing the other team that I have another pitch (helps), knowing it's not going to be a dropball every single time," Kleist said. "And my riseball is a little bit slower than by dropball, and a little bit faster than my changeup, so it kind of fools the batter a little bit as an offspeed pitch."
The regular-season series between the Ducks and Huskies was played three weeks before Lilley's breakout series against Florida State. She's batting just .214 so far in the postseason, but could be an extra weapon for Oregon should she regain her late-season magic.
"I think my mind's in a better spot; definitely more confident," Lilley said. "When you start actually producing for your team, it helps. I feels like I'm in a better place mentally, for sure."
That only adds to Lilley's comfort level this week, as the Ducks prepare to open the Women's College World Series on Thursday against the familiar purple and gold of Washington.
"I'm excited to play them, give them our best game," Lilley said. "Being able to play such high quality teams in conference has been helpful in our team's success this year, especially in the postseason."
The Ducks opened play at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium that year against Pac-12 rival UCLA. But before she could even think about the opponent, Lilley had to contend with the emotions of playing on American softball's most hallowed grounds, with an NCAA championship at stake.
On Thursday, the Ducks again open Women's College World Series play against a Pac-12 foe, this time Washington (4 p.m. PT, ESPN2). The UO softball team practiced Wednesday at the USA Softball complex, and not only is that now familiar territory to Lilley and the other upperclassman, the presence of a conference rival in the opening game only adds to their comfort level.
"Freshman year we were like, 'Whoa, we're at the World Series, this is so different,'" Lilley said prior to practice Wednesday, between interviews with the ESPN crew broadcasting the tournament. "Now, this is like another regular-season game — except it's postseason, at the World Series. When you take that into respect, that you're playing someone you played three times in the regular season, it takes away that shock of, 'We're playing at the World Series.'"
The Ducks (52-6) are facing a Pac-12 team in their WCWS opener for the third time in four trips under head coach Mike White. Oregon faced Arizona State in its 2012 opener, and the Bruins in 2015, in between opening with Florida State in 2014.
Oregon has actually known for more than a week it would open with a conference rival, were the Ducks to reach OKC; Washington faced Utah in the Super Regional round. Oregon-Washington is one of three intra-conference matchups to open the Women's College World Series on Thursday, the others featuring LSU and Texas A&M of the SEC, and Oklahoma and Baylor of the Big 12.
Some coaches Wednesday expressed interest in re-bracketing the tournament after Super Regionals in future years, to avoid conference matchups where possible. But nobody who fought their way to Oklahoma City is complaining too loudly.
"I'd much rather be (facing a conference rival) here, than not be here," White said. "It is what it is, and we've just got to go out and make the most of the opportunity."
There was very nearly a fourth Pac-12 team to reach the WCWS, until Baylor went on the road to upset Arizona in the Super Regionals. Given the strength and depth of the conference, UW coach Heather Tarr said, postseason showdowns are inevitable.
"I think it's awesome to see the greatness rise to the top," Tarr said. "Eventually you're going to run into each other if you're doing a good job. It's a game, and we all get to play, and see what we've got when it matters."
For Lilley, the matchup will be particularly familiar — she was a high school rival and club teammate of UW pitcher Taran Alvelo. But the entire UO roster faced Washington less than two months ago, a three-game series in which the Huskies took two.
Oregon sophomore Megan Kleist earned a complete-game victory in Oregon's 4-1 win in the second game of that series. Kleist then took the loss in relief in the rubber match, in which UW rallied in the seventh to force extra innings, then won in nine.
But Kleist is coming off the best game of her career, a three-hit shutout of Kentucky in the Super Regional opener. And she, too, seems comfortable facing the Huskies again in the postseason.
"In my mind I've just been picturing it as, we're going to Washington to play Washington, because we're away (from home)," Kleist said. "I think it's really helping me, personally, to play Washington the first game, because it does take away that, 'Wow, we're in Oklahoma City.' It's just another game."
Kleist dominated Kentucky by leaning on her dropball and mixing in an effective changeup. But she usually features a riseball as well, and doesn't expect to leave it in her back pocket this week in the World Series.
"Just showing the other team that I have another pitch (helps), knowing it's not going to be a dropball every single time," Kleist said. "And my riseball is a little bit slower than by dropball, and a little bit faster than my changeup, so it kind of fools the batter a little bit as an offspeed pitch."
The regular-season series between the Ducks and Huskies was played three weeks before Lilley's breakout series against Florida State. She's batting just .214 so far in the postseason, but could be an extra weapon for Oregon should she regain her late-season magic.
"I think my mind's in a better spot; definitely more confident," Lilley said. "When you start actually producing for your team, it helps. I feels like I'm in a better place mentally, for sure."
That only adds to Lilley's comfort level this week, as the Ducks prepare to open the Women's College World Series on Thursday against the familiar purple and gold of Washington.
"I'm excited to play them, give them our best game," Lilley said. "Being able to play such high quality teams in conference has been helpful in our team's success this year, especially in the postseason."
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