PREVIEW: Oregon Softball Looks To Bounce Back at Home Against Arizona State This Weekend.

By Jakob Salao 

#14 Oregon Softball looks to bounce back after a series loss to the UCLA Bruins at home against their next opponent: the #15 Arizona State Sun Devils. 

The loss against UCLA was the first time that Oregon has lost a series against an opponent this year. The Sun Devils are coming into this series off of a 14 game win streak after sweeping the Arizona Wildcats in convincing fashion. Despite the loss, Head Coach Melyssa Lombardi’s confidence in the team hasn’t wavered. 

“We've got a really good team, and in order for us to compete and do the things we need to do, we need to be clean across the board,” Lombardi said. “When we have the opportunity to clutch up and hit, we need to hit.” 

Compared to the Ducks’ recent hitting struggles, Arizona State ranks top three in almost every major hitting statistic in the nation. The Sun Devils are currently 3rd in hitting percentage (0.344), 2nd in on-base percentage (0.444), and 2nd in slugging percentage (0.662). Oregon ranks 28th in hitting percentage (0.316), 62nd in OBP (0.377), and 28th in slugging percentage (0.523).

Arizona State’s stellar hitting comes courtesy of Senior Yannira Acuna and Freshman Cydney Sanders. Both hitters rank at the top of the nation with batting averages over .450 and are two of four players in the nation with a slugging percentage over 1.000.

Potential Starting Pitchers

Oregon: #00 Fr. RHP Stevie Hansen, #15 Jr. RHP Makenna Kliethermes

Head Coach Lombardi has shown that Hansen has a large role in the pitching rotation, starting 2/3 of the games against UCLA, and Hansen is in that position for good reason. Hansen has the lowest WHIP on the team at 1.02 and the second-lowest ERA at 2.38. Hansen’s age is not reflective of her play; despite being a freshman she pitches with the poise of a seasoned veteran player with the stats to show it.

Kliethermes is the veteran of the two pitchers. She holds the lowest ERA of the team at 2.33 and a WHIP of 1.09. She seems to have taken a backseat to Hansen, at least in the UCLA series, pitching just 5.1 innings compared to Hansen’s 10. Regardless, both pitchers are strong options that Head Coach Lombardi can put in any situation. 

Lefty reliever Jordan Dail and closer Raegan Breedlove are also valuable members of the staff.

Arizona State: #08 Sr. RHP Marissa Schuld, #99 Fr. RHP Mac Morgan

Schuld is proving to be the most dangerous pitcher on the Sun Devil’s pitching staff. With a top 15 ERA at just 1.13 in 15 appearances, Schuld could pose a big problem to the Oregon hitters after struggling against UCLA. She’s also coming off a 5 inning no-hit performance against Arizona, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Head Coach Trisha Ford sticks with the hot hand. 

Although Morgan doesn’t have the same impressive numbers that Schuld has, Head Coach Ford has shown that Morgan has a role in the lineup. Morgan has made the most appearances and pitched the most innings for the Sun Devils. Her 1.54 ERA is nothing to sneeze at and can pose problems for the Oregon hitters. 

The Sun Devils also have Jr. Lindsay Lopez who has a 1.38 ERA as a member of the staff. 

Oregon’s Keys to Sucess

  • Convert on the opportunities they are given at the plate, Arizona State won’t give too many of those
  • Cleanup fielding errors 
  • Stay ahead in the pitching count 

Projected Lineup - Oregon 

DP/LF Kai Luschar (.250/.382/.286)

CF Hanna Delgado (.406/.479/.557)

2B Allee Bunker (.386/.419/.605)

1B KK Humphreys (.323/.362/.556)

RF Ariel Carlson (.267/.330/.663)

C Terra McGowan (.360/.407/.520)

SS Paige Sinicki (.282/.365/.412)

3B Rachel Cid (.265/.306/.426)

LF/DP Jasmine Williams (.268/.317/.482)

Projected Lineup - Arizona State

SS Alynah Torres (.383/.436/.640)

RF Yannira Acuna (.494/.606/1.103)

1B Cydney Sanders (.467/.594/1.000)

CF Jazmine Hill (.352/.429/.682)

DP Jazmyn Rollin (.310/.423/.879)

LF Makenna Harper (.211/.304/.368)

2B Halle Harger (.265/.375/.294)

C Jessica Puk (.235/.394/.353)

3B Bella Loomis (.258/.368/.387)

Final Thoughts

This is another challenging series for Oregon. They are facing some of the best hitters and pitchers in the nation at the same time. However, if Oregon is able to minimize their own errors, they have shown the ability to play with the best of the best. Oregon often starts off games, and series, slowly, and this is the series that they need to turn around the most if they want to get back into winning positions. However, if they don’t, Arizona State won’t hold back for even a second.

Final Prediction

Arizona State takes 2/3 games.