Ducks Win 1-0, In a Pitcher’s Duel Against The Cal Bears

By: Cole Rothman

Tonight, Oregon Softball started off their three game home stand against UC Berkeley with a hard fought 1-0 victory. The enthusiastic crowd saw a pitcher’s duel between the Duck’s, Jordan Dail and the Bear’s, Kamalani Dung. The two aces only allowed 7 combined hits, but the Duck’s 4 hits were enough to seal a narrow victory. Jordan Dail pitched another full game and struck out 11 batters, but according to Coach Lombardi she’d be the first to tell you that she didn’t have the best game. Dail struggled with her accuracy at times, she walked 4 batters and hit UC Berkeley’s Lauren Espalin twice. Dung also struggled with her control and walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the second.

While Dail’s arm remained hot as ever, most of the bats for the Ducks went cold tonight. Yet, the usual suspects still managed to chip in; Haley Cruse, Jasmine Sievers, Allee Bunker and Shaye Bowden each went 1 for 3 from the batter’s box. In the bottom of the 5th, Allee Bunker and Jasmine Sievers stole the show. Bunker got to first on a fielder’s choice ground ball, stole second and on the very next pitch was driven home on an absolutely smashed line drive off the left field wall by Sievers.

The Bears scared the Ducks in the top of the 7th. Back to back singles from Sabrina Nunez and Amani Bradley gave Cal hope, but Jordan Dail quickly snatched that away. She retired the next 3 batters and that was all she wrote. The 8th seed Oregon Ducks look continue their home stand against 9th seed Cal Bears tomorrow night at 7pm. With both programs looking to kick start a run into the postseason, fans are in for another thriller.