By Graham Metzker
The No. 22 Oregon Ducks softball team (29-16) celebrated Senior Day properly, earning their first conference sweep of the season over in-state rivals Oregon State (31-18) with a 4-2 win on Sunday at Jane Sanders Stadium.
It was a pitcher’s duel to start the final game of the series, with aces Stevie Hansen and Mariah Mazon facing off for the second time in three days. Hansen and Mazon combined for 12 strikeouts, but both starters got flustered and gave up multiple runs.
Oregon shortstop Paige Sinicki opened up the scoring on the day with an RBI double in the bottom of the second inning. But Mazon made up for her errors quickly, using her bat in the next half inning to drive in two runs and to give Oregon State the 2-1 lead.
Makenna Kliethermes was forced to enter the game in the third inning after Hansen got roughed up, despite pitching six innings and picking up the win in yesterday’s match. But Kliethermes showed she didn’t need the rest, immediately getting two outs to leave two Beaver runners in scoring positions. Another day, another show-stopping performance for Kliethermes, who tossed four and a third shutout innings along with four strikeouts on just three hits.
The composure from Kliethermes helped the Ducks get back on track. Allee Bunker sent one to deep center field for her ninth homer of the season, tying up the game 1-1 in the bottom of the third. One inning later, the Ducks loaded up the bases and scored twice more thanks to Gabby Herrera’s pinch-hit single and a walk to make it 4-2. The Ducks would hold on to the momentum for the rest of the game, sweeping their bitter rivals before Senior Day ceremonies commenced at the Jane.
Up next for the Oregon Ducks is a trip to the Bay Area, as they will finish off the regular season with a series with the Stanford Cardinal.
KWVA · SB STORY | Senior Day Delight as Oregon beats Oregon State 4-2 to Complete the Sweep
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