Lyndsey Grein delivered a strong pitching performance as the No. 18 Oregon Ducks softball team split two games Friday at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, California.
Grein took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and helped secure a 2-1 win over No. 13 South Carolina. In her outing, she allowed just one run on two hits across 5.1 innings and struck out six batters. This improved her season record to 4-3.
In four appearances against Southeastern Conference (SEC) teams this season, Grein has allowed only four runs on eight hits over 24.2 innings, resulting in an earned run average of 1.16 against those opponents. She has also recorded 29 strikeouts in those games, including a no-hitter against Missouri.
The Ducks scored both their runs in the second inning when Katie Flannery hit a two-out double down the left field line after Ayanna Shaw singled and Taryn Ho reached base on an error and stole second.
South Carolina’s only early baserunner was Karley Shelton, who was hit by a pitch in the first inning before Grein retired 11 consecutive batters. The Gamecocks broke up Grein’s no-hit bid with a solo home run by Tori Ensley leading off the fifth inning.
Maddie Milhorn relieved Grein during the sixth inning and closed out the game for her first career save.
Later that evening, Oregon lost to Cal State Fullerton by a score of 5-3 after falling behind early but nearly rallying back in the fifth inning. Fullerton scored four runs in the third and added another with a solo home run in the fourth for a five-run lead.
Oregon responded when Fullerton walked three straight batters to start the fifth inning, allowing Rylee McCoy to force in a run with another walk. Addison Amaral followed with a deep fly ball that enabled Elon Butler to tag up and score from third base, marking Amaral’s 100th career RBI. Braiesey Rosa then singled home Emma Cox for Oregon’s final run of the game.
Elon Butler went three-for-six at bat across both games on Friday, raising her tournament batting average to .385. Ayanna Shaw had two hits against South Carolina while Emma Cox threw out her eighth runner of the season defensively.
Kaylynn Jones’ seven-game hitting streak ended during Friday’s contest versus South Carolina. The matchup marked Oregon’s first meeting with South Carolina since 2008.
Oregon will conclude its participation at this year’s Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with one game against No. 20 Duke scheduled for Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m.
