Authored by: Elliott Hunt; Photo Credit: Wilder Lewis

The No. 5 Oregon Ducks (35-3, 9-1) swept the series against the Michigan Wolverines (27-12, 6-4), taking care of business 9-1 in the second game of the doubleheader at a rocking Jane Sanders Stadium.

“We need our fans to step up and make it such an uncomfortable environment, and they did exactly that today,” head coach Melyssa Lombardi said.

Oregon starting pitcher Lyndey Grein (5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 5 K, 0 BB) started the final game of the series off strong, recording a strikeout and stranding a Wolverine runner on third to end the top of the first inning.

Michigan starting pitcher Lauren Derkowski (3 2/3 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 3 K, 5 BB) allowed three batters to reach base, but was able to close out the first inning, leaving two Oregon runners stranded at first and third after a diving catch by Jenissa Conway in center field.

Grein recorded her first strikeout of the game in the top of the second inning, while the Ducks’ defense locked down the perimeter, with a groundout and a lineout to keep the second inning short with three up and three down.

Derkowski put up her first and second strikeouts of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Stefini Ma’ake was walked, but couldn’t advance before a flyout ended the inning for the Ducks.

Grein continued her dominance in the top of the third inning, only facing three batters for the second consecutive frame, and recording her third strikeout of the game.

Kai Luschar started the bottom of the third inning with a chop hit to first base. Paige Sinicki followed with a fielder’s choice to second base, causing Luschar to be tagged out, but reaching first. Sinicki stole second base, which was followed by Rylee McCoy being intentionally walked. Remmington Hewitt, who replaced Katie Flannery in the top of the first inning, hit a line drive towards Derkowski, who wasn’t able to get a handle on the ball, allowing the Ducks to load the bases. Kedre Luschar reached first to keep the bases loaded, but her sister Kai was tagged out at home. Dezianna Patmon was able to connect the bat with the ball and brought McCoy and Hewitt home to put the Ducks up 2-0.

For the second straight inning, Derkowski walked Ma’ake, which loaded the bases once again in the bottom of the third inning. Braiesey Rosa struck out, giving Derkowski her third strikeout of the game, and ending the inning with three runners left on base for the Ducks.

The top of the fourth saw Conway reach third base for the second time in the game while Lauren Putz reached first, and Grein recorded her third strikeout of the game. Putz tried to steal second on a wild pitch, but ran into Sinicki, causing her to go to the ground and be replaced from the game. On the wild pitch, Conway scored for the Wolverines to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Ducks exploded their lead over the Wolverines in the bottom of the fourth inning, with Kai Luschar and McCoy scoring on a Kedre Luschar hit. Flannery scored on a Patmon hit, then Stefini Ma’ake hit a deep homer into left field, allowing Patmon and Kedre Luschar to score. That was followed up with a Rosa solo home run to put the Ducks up big, 9-1.

A pitching change was made, with Kat Meyers (1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 K, 1 BB) coming in for Derkowski. She got the one out left in the inning and sent the game to the fifth.

With the Ducks up by eight, the Wolverines needed to score to keep the game alive in the top of the fifth inning, but they couldn’t do so. Oregon’s dominant defense shut down the Michigan offense, with three straight outs, capped off by Grein’s fifth strikeout of the day.

Oregon won the game in five innings due to the run rule, sweeping the Wolverines at home, in part thanks to the home crowd.

“The crowd is awesome. Coach Lombardi said it was a lion’s den today, and we really felt it, catcher Trinity Holden said. “The Jane is loud, fans were standing and stomping, it was awesome.”

Oregon will close out the home stand on Monday afternoon, taking on Loyola Marymount University at 12:00 PM at Jane Sanders Stadium.