Both Oregon (10-6) and Washington(10-4) came into PK Park Friday night looking good. On the mound, Sophomore Cullen Kafka came in with a 3.47 ERA, and a 2-0 record in four appearances. Although he allowed seven hits through his first four innings, Kafka managed to hold the Huskies to just two runs with his 7 ground outs. In the fifth inning the Huskies torched the plate, scoring five runs on a fatigued Kafka.

With two outs Kafka was replaced by the left-handed Sophomore Kolby Somers who finished off the inning. Oregon’s pitching struggles continued with Somers, who only threw .1 innings but walked 2 batters and was quickly replaced.

After a solid start, the Ducks hitting disappeared as the game progressed into the later innings. The hot-hitting Gabe Matthews started off with a powerful double down the left field line, but failed to produce any more hits.

Up Next: Oregon plays Washington for the second time in a three game series tomorrow at 4 p.m. as…

Both Oregon (10-6) and Washington(10-4) came into PK Park Friday night looking good. On the mound, Sophomore Cullen Kafka came in with a 3.47 ERA, and a 2-0 record in four appearances. Although he allowed seven hits through his first four innings, Kafka managed to hold the Huskies to just two runs with his 7 ground outs. In the fifth inning the Huskies torched the plate, scoring five runs on a fatigued Kafka.

With two outs Kafka was replaced by the left-handed Sophomore Kolby Somers who finished off the inning. Oregon’s pitching struggles continued with Somers, who only threw .1 innings but walked 2 batters and was quickly replaced.

After a solid start, the Ducks hitting disappeared as the game progressed into the later innings. The hot-hitting Gabe Matthews started off with a powerful double down the left field line, but failed to produce any more hits.

Up Next: Oregon plays Washington for the second time in a three game series tomorrow at 4 p.m. as…

Oregon Softball fell in their Pac-12 opener to Arizona in Tucson on Friday, March 15, suffering an 8-0 run-rule defeat to drop to .500 on the year. The Ducks were outhit by the Wildcats 13-2, as starting pitcher Taylor McQuillin acted as a brick wall between UO and home plate. No Oregon player reached scoring position on Friday, while Arizona's offense found success often after the first inning. The Wildcats put two on Oregon starting pitcher Jordan Dail in the second frame, one in third, another in the fourth, and closed out the game in the sixth with a four-spot. Oregon is now 11-11 on the year; the Ducks return to action on Saturday at 2 PM, with the series closer scheduled for Sunday at noon.

GAME STORY (by Matt Tyra)

…

Oregon Softball fell in their Pac-12 opener to Arizona in Tucson on Friday, March 15, suffering an 8-0 run-rule defeat to drop to .500 on the year. The Ducks were outhit by the Wildcats 13-2, as starting pitcher Taylor McQuillin acted as a brick wall between UO and home plate. No Oregon player reached scoring position on Friday, while Arizona's offense found success often after the first inning. The Wildcats put two on Oregon starting pitcher Jordan Dail in the second frame, one in third, another in the fourth, and closed out the game in the sixth with a four-spot. Oregon is now 11-11 on the year; the Ducks return to action on Saturday at 2 PM, with the series closer scheduled for Sunday at noon.

GAME STORY (by Matt Tyra)

…

When Jovon Bouknight accepted Oregon football's offer to replace Michael Johnson as the Ducks' wide receivers coach, he knew his top priority would be development. Now, nearly a week into spring practice, Bouknight and the Ducks' wideouts are continuing their progress towards replacing the program's single season record holder in receiving yards in Dillon Mitchell. While Bouknight is searching for those that he can trust, Oregon's offensive line coach, Alex Mirabal, has the luxury of one of the nation's most experienced group leading by example. But despite returning its entire group, Mirabal and the Ducks' are looking forward to building a rotation along the offensive line to prepare them for the years to come. Listen below as Mirabal, Bouknight, along with starting quarterback Justin Herbert discuss the Ducks' progress in the spring so far.

Quarterback Justin Herbert

When Jovon Bouknight accepted Oregon football's offer to replace Michael Johnson as the Ducks' wide receivers coach, he knew his top priority would be development. Now, nearly a week into spring practice, Bouknight and the Ducks' wideouts are continuing their progress towards replacing the program's single season record holder in receiving yards in Dillon Mitchell. While Bouknight is searching for those that he can trust, Oregon's offensive line coach, Alex Mirabal, has the luxury of one of the nation's most experienced group leading by example. But despite returning its entire group, Mirabal and the Ducks' are looking forward to building a rotation along the offensive line to prepare them for the years to come. Listen below as Mirabal, Bouknight, along with starting quarterback Justin Herbert discuss the Ducks' progress in the spring so far.

Quarterback Justin Herbert

QuackSmack is live from the Valley River Inn. Watch the show live on Periscope via our Twitter @KWVASports

Hosts: Jordan Brenner, Matt Tyra and Jonathan Rifkind

6:02 Oregon Softball Travels to No. 12 Arizona for Pac-12 Opener

• Oregon's offense on the verge of breaking out?
• Oregon prepares to face Arizona's deep…

Times have been rough for Oregon Softball the past couple of weeks. After an impressive first two weeks to the season helped the team to the no. 17 ranking in the NFCA Poll, the Ducks have gone 4-8, taking six straight losses the past couple of weeks while dropping out of the top 25 for the first time in years. However, with five of those six losses coming by three runs or less, and three of them by only a single run, Oregon seems to feel comfortable with themselves on the eve of Pac-12 play. Though the Ducks have the hardest start to the conference slate, heading to no. 12 Arizona for three this weekend before returning home against no. 5 Washington at the end of March, head coach Melyssa Lombardi believes her team is on the cusp of breaking through. Listen to her takeaways from the past weekend, as well as reaction from second baseman Allee Bunker and lefty pitcher Jordan Dail, right below.

Head Coach Melyssa Lombardi

Times have been rough for Oregon Softball the past couple of weeks. After an impressive first two weeks to the season helped the team to the no. 17 ranking in the NFCA Poll, the Ducks have gone 4-8, taking six straight losses the past couple of weeks while dropping out of the top 25 for the first time in years. However, with five of those six losses coming by three runs or less, and three of them by only a single run, Oregon seems to feel comfortable with themselves on the eve of Pac-12 play. Though the Ducks have the hardest start to the conference slate, heading to no. 12 Arizona for three this weekend before returning home against no. 5 Washington at the end of March, head coach Melyssa Lombardi believes her team is on the cusp of breaking through. Listen to her takeaways from the past weekend, as well as reaction from second baseman Allee Bunker and lefty pitcher Jordan Dail, right below.

Head Coach Melyssa Lombardi

HOSTS: Matt Tyra, Sean MacPherson, and Brett Taylor

6:00 Promising Display for Oregon Baseball in Wacky Loss to Beavers

• Tough start for Somers, but otherwise pitching excellent
• What to take from Oregon's excellent RPI
• Washington series expectations

6:12 Oregon Softball Searching for Momentum as Pac-12 Play Starts

• Weighing offensive improvement against pitching depth concerns
• Common opponents, stats, records, location all favor Arizona this weekend
• Projecting the front-half…