By: Cole Rothman

The Ducks were eliminated from postseason contention last weekend, after they only managing to win 1 of 3 games against the Utah Utes. Postseason elimination or not, the Eugene faithful showed up in bunches to support the softball program. In what marked the first game of Oregon’s final series of the year, the Ducks squared off against the PAC-12 4 seed, Arizona State Sun devils. The Sun Devils got out to an early lead in the top of the first inning and never looked back. Oregon’s Jordan Dail struggled with her command in the first inning, walking 4 batters and allowing 2 hits and 3 runs. Dail locked in after the first inning and only allowed one more run the rest of the night. Despite making decent contact all night, the duck’s bats failed to provide any support. Haley Cruse rocketed a double off the the center field wall for Oregon’s lone hit of the evening.

Cielo Meza and Samantha Mejia pitched wonderfully for Arizona State, but Oregon’s Head Coach, Melyssa Lombardi, thought the lack of hitting fell squarely on the shoulders of the Ducks. Coach Lombardi said she was disappointed with their effort tonight and hopes to turn it around by 5 o’clock tomorrow. The Ducks meet the Sun Devils for game 2 of 3 tomorrow night, in a game dubbed “The Strike Out Cancer Game.” Come show your support for cancer research and the Ducks softball program tomorrow night. The Ducks are looking to bounce back from a disappointing game 1 and hopefully send their loyal seniors off on a high note.