The Oregon Ducks women's softball team took on the Liberty University Lady Flames on Saturday. The Ducks were able to overpower Liberty 10-2 behind two big home runs. This was the Ducks' third game of the NFCA Leadoff Classic, winning their first against Missouri and dropping their second against 13th-ranked Clemson.
Right-hander Taylour Spencer started the game for the Ducks. She saw her first action of the season in relief against Clemson, throwing two innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts to boot. Gabby Mike started for Liberty; she took the loss when they were defeated 9-4 by Clemson, where she pitched three innings of one-run ball.
The first three innings of the game only saw one hit by each team, as both pitchers were commanding the ball well. The Ducks threatened in the top of the fourth with transfers Amari Harper and Elon Butler drawing walks. Mike was able to work out of the jam by getting Oregon catcher Emma Cox to line out sharply.
Spencer secured her fourth strikeout of the game after Liberty poked a two-out single to make things uncomfortable. A no-out double by Oregon shortstop Addison Amaral in the top of the fifth put the Ducks in excellent position to score. After two quick outs, Ayanna Shaw lined a ball off Liberty's third baseman's glove, and the ball trickled away, but not far enough, as Amaral tried to score from third. A laser throw cut her down at home, keeping the game scoreless.
In the bottom of the fifth, an error by the Ducks, and a Liberty steal, followed by a sac bunt, put a runner at third with one out. Oregon native Paige Doerr capitalized for Liberty as she grounded the ball to Amaral, whose throw could not get the runner at home. Liberty only scratched across one, but it was good enough to take the lead.
After being held scoreless for five innings, the Ducks started off the top of the sixth hot, as Harper singled and Butler ripped a double down the line, putting both runners in prime scoring position. A wild pitch and a throwing error on the same play let both runners score as Butler just beat the throw home. Still with one out, the Ducks loaded the bases with slugger Stefini Ma’ake coming up to bat.
The crack of the bat was deafening as Ma’ake crushed a fly-ball to center field. The Liberty outfielder looked up as the ball sailed over the fence for a Ducks grand-slam, giving them the lead and six runs in the sixth inning.
Liberty brought in right-hander Katie Love to stop the bleeding. After a leadoff single and a walk, head coach Melyssa Lombardi took out Spencer, who finished the game going five innings, allowing one unearned run and striking out four. This allowed for the highly anticipated college debut of freshman Maddie Milhorn, who has been praised by her team all offseason. Milhorn lived up to expectations, stranding both runners and striking out two of the first three batters she faced.
Harper started off the top of the seventh with an ear-ringing double; she promptly scored on a Butler hustle triple. Butler was then knocked in by a Kaylynn Jones infield single, which chased Love from the circle. After Liberty’s pitching change, Cox came up with one on and launched a home run to left field, showing how much power this Oregon team has.
The Ducks led by nine going into the last half inning, with Milhorn staying in to close the game. Liberty was able to bring across one run, but three more strikeouts by Milhorn sealed the win.
The No. 5 Ducks face No. 4 Tennessee later on Saturday night in a highly anticipated matchup of top-five opponents. Liberty will look for its first win Sunday, Feb. 8, against Notre Dame.