TUCSON, Ariz. – Paige Sinicki homered to tie the game in the top of the seventh and force extra innings, but No. 25 Arizona pushed a run across in the bottom of the eighth as No. 20 Oregon dropped a 3-2 decision to the Wildcats Sunday at Hillenbrand Stadium.
How it Happened: Oregon (24-15, 10-7) got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. Kai Luschar reached on an infield single and stole her Pac-12 leading 22nd base of the season. An out later, Ariel Carlson doubled into the right field gap and the Ducks had a 1-0 lead after the top of the first.
Arizona (28-13-1, 9-9) scored once and loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the first on starter Raegan Breedlove. Elise Sokolsky came on in relief and struck out Emily Schepp to end the inning with game tied, 1-1.
With the exception of a two-out home run by Olivia DiNardo, Sokolsky kept from cashing in on scoring opportunities. She went 6.0 innings and allowed one run on four hits with six strikeouts.
Arizona had two runners reach base with one out in the second, but Sokolsky escaped the jam with a strikeout and a fly to center.
The Ducks loaded the bases in the top of the fifth on hits by Paige Sinicki and Luschar and an intentional walk to Carlson, but Vallery Wong flew out to right to end the threat.
Sokolsky worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the fifth to keep it a one-run game. The Wildcats also had a runner reach in the sixth, but she was stranded by Sokolsky.
Paige Sinicki drew the Ducks even at 2-2 with a one-out home run in the top of the seventh. She launched a 1-2 pitch over the 225-foot sign in center field.
The Wildcats scored an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth to win it.
Notable:
Carlson tied Arizona’s Carlie Scupin for the Pac-12 lead in RBIs with 45 … Carlson and Taryn Jenkins of Nevada are the only two players in the nation this season with 12 or more home runs and 14 or more stolen bases (Jenkins has 12 home runs and 16 stolen bases) … Sinicki went 2-for-3, while Luschar was 2-for-4 … Sinicki’s home run was her second of the season and ninth of her career … Three of her nine career homers have come at Hillenbrand Stadium.
On Deck: Oregon’s senior weekend begins Friday when the Ducks host Oregon State at Jane Sanders Stadium (5 p.m., Pac-12 Networks).
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