EUGENE, Ore. — After an outstanding performance on Friday, the Oregon Ducks returned to the field on a rare sunny afternoon to face the Penn State Nittany Lions. Oregon carried momentum from its 8-2 win the day before, a game where star pitcher Lyndsey Grein threw a complete game with 12 strikeouts while the Ducks powered the offense with home runs from Elon Butler, Amari Harper and Rylee McCoy.
Saturday’s matchup produced a similar result as Oregon defeated Penn State 10-1 in five innings with a run rule.
“I think we're just putting pieces together, and that’s what I absolutely love about this team,” Butler said. “We have all the pieces to win a World Series and be Big Ten champions. I just love to see us finally putting the pieces down.”
Freshman pitcher Maddie Milhorn made her fourth start of her career after earning her third the previous weekend. She opened the game strong, striking out the first batter she faced and finishing the inning with another strikeout to secure a quick one-two-three frame.
“I was really excited to just come out and do it again,” Milhorn said. “I had a talk with Coach Lombardi beforehand, and she said, ‘Just get through as many innings as you can for our pitchers.’ So I went out and leaned on them and did anything I could to get their arms some rest.”
Oregon once again jumped on Penn State early, mirroring Friday’s performance by scoring three runs in the first inning.
With the bases loaded and McCoy at the plate, Ayanna Shaw scored after McCoy was hit by a pitch, keeping the bases loaded. A sacrifice fly from Stefini Ma’ake brought Kaylynn Jones home, and Harper crossed the plate moments later on a single from Emma Cox. Despite recording just two hits in the inning, Oregon took a 3-1 lead.
“I think we’re locked in from the jump,” Butler said. “That’s kind of how we play, we try to show our presence immediately.”
Penn State responded in the top of the second with a solo home run from leadoff hitter Brooke Kloscowicz. The blast marked the 27th home run allowed by Oregon’s pitching staff this season, an area that has challenged the Ducks throughout the year. After a circle visit from head coach Melyssa Lombardi, Milhorn regrouped and recorded the final outs to make sure the homer was the only run the Nittany Lions would get.
The Ducks extended their lead in the bottom of the inning when Butler drove a double down the left field line, bringing Addison Amaral and Shaw home to score. Penn State attempted to challenge the call, but the ruling was confirmed after review.
Following a stolen base by Harper, Oregon again had runners in scoring position. A wild pitch allowed Butler to use her speed to score, pushing the Ducks’ lead to 6-1 heading into the third inning.
The third began with a pitch clock violation against Oregon, giving Penn State leadoff hitter Madison Seidel a ball before Milhorn delivered a pitch. The call ultimately had little impact as Oregon retired her at first base.
Natalie Lieto later reached on a hit, but the Nittany Lions’ momentum was cut short when she left the bag early before the pitch left the pitcher’s hand, resulting in the final out of the inning.
Oregon added to its lead in the fourth inning after Cox reached on an error. Amaral followed with a double, allowing pinch runner Regan Legg to score. Later in the inning, Butler stepped to the plate and delivered the decisive blow for a three-run home run to right field that pushed Oregon ahead 10-1.
“Everyone has their own kind of reset,” Butler said. “I just think about getting the next one and the people in front of me and try to do something for them.”
With a nine-run lead, the Ducks needed three outs in the fifth inning to secure the run-rule victory and did just that, closing out Penn State to take the 10-1 win and the series.
Milhorn earned her first conference victory after pitching a complete game, allowing just one run while striking out two.
“I have a talk with Lyndsey in between innings,” Milhorn said of how she reset after conceding the home run. “She was like, ‘So what? I gave up two yesterday. Just go out and get the next one.’”
Butler led Oregon offensively with five RBIs across three at-bats, including the three-run home run that sealed the game. The transfer from Cal has continued to show why Oregon brought her in, delivering consistent offensive production early in the season. Her home run marked her third in two days after hitting back-to-back homers in Friday’s game.
“I had a good mentality shift and used a lot of trust in myself,” Butler said. “My mind just changed swinging-wise, and I’ve just been trusting myself.”
The Ducks will finish the series against Penn State on Sunday, March 15, as they look to complete a sweep in their first Big Ten conference series of the season.