EUGENE, Ore. — On Sunday, the Oregon Ducks took on the Penn State Nittany Lions on a cloudy day at Jane Sanders Stadium. The Ducks were rocking the white and pink uniforms to honor breast cancer awareness in Game 3 of the series.
After also taking the first two games of the weekend, the first Big Ten series of the season for the Ducks was completed in a 3-0 sweep against the Nittany Lions, as they took them down 6-5 in the final game.
Elise Sokolsky got the start in the circle for the Ducks and struck out two of the first four Penn State batters in the top of the first.
The Ducks had some fielding errors through the first few innings that allowed a couple baserunners, but were able to only allow just that and escape scoreless.
“I think it’s about having each other's backs. If something doesn’t go our way, it’s the next person doing the next right thing,” head coach Melyssa Lombardi said after addressing the mistakes on defense. “This is a really good defense. We just had a rough day.”
Oregon’s offense was not able to get anything going in the first as it went three-up, three-down. But the cold start was short-lived as Amari Harper singled off the first pitch she saw in the second inning. However, after grounding into a double-play, Stefini Ma’ake drove in Rylee McCoy to score the first run of the game to go up 1-0 going into the third.
After allowing a few baserunners off another fielding error and a hit-by-pitch, Sokolsky was able to escape the jam without allowing a run in the third.
The Ducks’ offense was able to capitalize on a fielding error this time on Penn State, as Elon Butler was able to reach on the errant throw and get all the way to third base to start off the bottom of the fourth.
Butler was eventually driven in by Emma Cox on a fielder’s choice, and immediately after, Ma’ake blasted one off the right field wall for a double to drive in her second run of the game.
The Ducks did leave two runners stranded, but were able to extend their lead to 3-0 going into the fifth inning.
After allowing two baserunners to begin the fifth, Sokolsky was replaced by Lyndsey Grein. With bases loaded, Grein gave up a grand slam, putting Penn State ahead 4-3, its first lead of the weekend.
Sokolsky would later re-enter in the seventh, and over 4 ⅔ innings pitched, allowed just two runs on two hits.
The Ducks were not able to respond after leaving two runners on with a deficit going into the sixth inning.
The deficit for Oregon was short-lived as Presley Lawson scored on a passed ball to even the score, and right after, Taryn Ho was able to drive in a run to give the Ducks the lead 5-4 entering the final inning.
After Grein gave up the grand slam, she was shut down in her relief appearance, striking out four of the 10 batters she faced over two innings pitched. Grein was replaced by Maddie Milhorn in the seventh inning.
Milhorn was able to get an out, but after a play at the plate, Penn State tied the game, which brought back Elise Sokolsky. However, they stayed tied after a bases-loaded double play by Ho to give Oregon the chance to win.
Ultimately, in the bottom of the seventh, the Ducks were able to walk it off after Cox drove in Butler on a sacrifice fly, her second RBI of the game.
“She is in a blue state of mind right now,” Lombardi said of Cox’s mentality after the game.