By Rob Moseley
GoDucks.com
EUGENE, Ore. — A six-run third inning put No. 24 Oregon in an early hole and the Ducks ultimately fell 8-3 to No. 9 Washington at Jane Sanders Stadium on Friday.
The Huskies hit two of their three homers in the game during the big third inning, and tacked on two late insurance runs after the Ducks rallied to score three times in the fourth. Hanna Delgado’s two-run single was the big hit for Oregon, giving her a four-game hitting streak and six RBIs during that streak.
The Ducks (20-13, 7-5 Pac-12) had chances to strike first, putting two on with two out in the first and getting a runner in scoring position with two out in the second. But UW escaped those jams, before breaking it open in the third.
“I don’t think we played our best game tonight,” UO coach Melyssa Lombardi said. “That’s kind of the tough things about today — you’re playing a good team, you’ve got to be able to clutch up at the plate, got to be able to have shut down innings.”
How It Happened: Ariel Carlson walked with two out in the first, and Alyssa Daniell followed with a double before both runners were stranded. In the second, KK Humphreys walked with two outs and stole second, but she too was left on base.
The Huskies then led off the top of the third with a homer, before Morgan Scott retired the next two batters. The next six in a row reached, however, with a three-run homer capping the six-run inning.
“We’ve got to keep the ball in the yard,” Lombardi said. “We cannot defend not keeping the ball in the yard.”
After stranding another runner in the bottom of the third, Oregon broke through in the fourth. With two outs and a runner at first, Humphreys singled, Remmington Hewitt worked a pinch-hit walk and Kai Luschar followed with another walk to force in a run.
The Huskies made a change in the circle, and Delgado greeted the new pitcher with a two-run single to make it 6-3.
“You got runners on and from there we were able to clutch up,” Lombardi said. “We were just patient that inning, and not chasing.”
A two-out single by UW in the fifth scored a runner from second off UO reliever Raegan Breedlove. The Huskies added a solo homer in the seventh against Taylour Spencer.
In the bottom of the seventh, Luschar singled and Delgado walked to open the inning. Each advanced on a wild pitch with one out, but they were stranded to end the game.
Notable: Oregon alum and 2023 all-American Allee Bunker threw out the ceremonial first pitch. … Earlier in the day, Bunker attended a ceremony at the Jaqua Center to recognize her 2023 academic all-America honor. … Friday’s game was the 100th all-time meeting between Oregon and Washington.
Up Next: The Ducks host the Huskies for game two of the series Saturday (5 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
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