EUGENE, Ore. — With a packed weekend celebrating 60 years of Oregon softball, the No. 13 Ducks faced off against the rival No. 18 Washington Huskies in a highly anticipated finale as fans packed Jane Sanders Stadium on Sunday. After taking the first two games of the series, Oregon (35-9, 16-2) entered the matchup looking to complete the sweep and cap off a memorable weekend, succeeding as they swept the Huskies 3-1.
Washington (34-12, 15-3) looked to carry over momentum from the previous game, where an early home run set the tone, but starting pitcher Lyndsey Grein shut that down quickly. Grein struck out Kaycie Burdick, who homered the day before to open the game, setting the tone for a scoreless top of the first as the Huskies failed to generate any runs.
“For me, I approach everyone the same,” Grein said. “Have respect for the opponent, but at the same time, everyone’s going to get my best that day.”
Oregon’s offense, however, also started slow. After two quick outs, Amari Harper showed patience at the plate and was hit by a pitch to give the Ducks their first baserunner. Emma Cox followed with a single through the left side, sparking a brief rally, but Oregon couldn’t capitalize, leaving both teams scoreless after one inning.
The Huskies were once again held in check in the next frame, but the Ducks couldn’t break through either. With a runner on first in the second inning, Ayanna Shaw stepped up but was called out at first on an illegally batted ball, an issue that had troubled her throughout the season. The inning ended with both teams still searching for their first run, as the early pitchers’ duel continued.
With Grein still in the circle in the third, Giselle Alvarez doubled to put two Huskies in scoring position and apply early pressure. Jadyn Glab stepped in looking to break things open, but she fouled out to right field, where Elon Butler made the catch and fired home in a heads-up play. The runner at third held, avoiding the risk, and Oregon escaped the jam moments later with a final out to keep Washington off the board.
Butler wasted no time making an impact in the bottom half of the inning. On the very first pitch, she launched a solo home run, flipping the momentum and giving Oregon a 1-0 lead. The blast also set her apart as the team’s sole home run leader with 13 on the season, breaking her tie with Amari Harper. While the Ducks couldn’t build on the momentum offensively, Butler’s swing proved enough to put Oregon in front.
Stefini Ma’ake reached base after a misplayed fly ball as Washington allowed it to drop for a single, but the Huskies quickly recovered. A sharp double play erased the opportunity and ended the inning, keeping Oregon’s slim lead intact.
In the bottom of the fifth, with two outs and the Ducks still searching for insurance, Butler delivered again. Working a full count, she crushed a pitch for her second home run of the game, extending Oregon’s lead to 2-0 and continuing her standout performance at the plate.
“I’m always impressed with Elon,” head coach Melissa Lombardi said. “To watch her struggle a little at the plate and just keep going, she knows her swing, knows what she needs to do, and makes the adjustment.”
Grein’s day in the circle came to a close in the sixth after she allowed runners on first and second with no outs. Elise Sokolsky entered in relief and made an immediate impact. She snagged a line drive back to the circle and quickly fired to second to turn a double play, erasing the threat of the Huskies scoring. Sokolsky then followed with a strikeout to end the inning, keeping Washington scoreless and preserving Oregon’s lead.
“She’s fun to watch and works incredibly hard,” Grein said of Sokolsky. “It’s a reward to see her compete.”
Harper kept pace in the home run race, launching a solo shot after Washington turned to relief pitcher Allie Thomsen, extending Oregon’s lead.
The Huskies’ defensive struggles continued behind her. Ma’ake reached again with a single up the middle after a misplay by the shortstop, but Washington quickly recovered, turning another double play to limit the damage. Even so, the Ducks pushed their advantage to 3-0 with Harper’s homer.
“You got to see our defense hold steady, and our pitching staff was unbelievable,” Lombardi said.
With Oregon just three outs away from closing out the game, the Ducks recorded two quickly before Melody Acevedo broke through with a solo home run, trimming the deficit to 3-1. The late push wasn’t enough, though, as Oregon secured the final out moments later to seal its 11th consecutive win.
“Knowing the pressure wasn’t on us, we just focused on playing our game,” Harper said. “Putting our best foot forward was awesome.”
Harper and Butler were standouts in Sunday's game as both scored home runs, with Butler hitting two. As well as the foul catch play that forced the runner on third to withstand running to score.
“I’ve become a more patient hitter and learned to trust my swing,” Butler said. “When you’re younger, you want to hit so bad that it takes you out of the zone. I’ve learned to trust myself, and it paid off.”
Harper was then awarded, at the end of the game, a Golden Ticket, which guaranteed her a spot in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) professional draft.
“There were no words,” Harper said. “It was always a possibility, but knowing it’s a real opportunity now, it’s indescribable.”
The Ducks return to Jane Sanders Stadium on Wednesday, April 22, for a rivalry matchup against Oregon State before hosting Ohio State in a three-game series to close out the final home stretch of the regular season.