The Oregon Ducks softball team clinched their Big Ten season-opening series with a 10-1 win against Penn State on March 14 at Jane Sanders Stadium. Elon Butler led the offense with a home run and five runs batted in, while freshman Maddie Milhorn earned her first collegiate win.
The victory marks the Ducks’ ninth consecutive Big Ten series win, continuing a streak that began last year. The team now holds a record of 20-7 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
Butler contributed two runs in the second inning and hit a three-run homer in the third, bringing her total to 30 runs batted in over the last 14 games. “I think I just had a really good mentality shift and just a lot of trust in myself and my capability as a player,” said Butler. “Nothing much has changed like swing wise. I think I’ve just been really trusting myself and knowing what I can do.”
Milhorn pitched all five innings, allowing only one run on three hits without issuing any walks. Associate head coach Sam Marder said, “It’s awesome. We always want to take the first two games of the series. And I think that, you know, these guys are viewing themselves as defending champions right now; they’re defending their title out there, and they’re playing with a chip on their shoulder, which is where we want them to be.”
The Ducks scored three runs each in the first and second innings before adding four more in the third to put the game out of reach. Amari Harper extended her hitting streak to nine games, while Ayanna Shaw, Elon Butler, and Emma Cox each recorded two-hit performances.
Reflecting on her team’s performance, Butler said, “We’re just putting all the pieces together…we have all the pieces to actually win a World Series and be World Series champions and Big Ten champions as well.” Pitcher Maddie Milhorn added about her teammates’ support: “I have so much confidence every time when we’re on offense, especially when, like, Elon’s up to bat…I know my team’s going to get the job done.” Marder also commented on the team’s growth this season: “This team was really challenged early in the season…it’s fun to see some of those things paying off right now.”
The Oregon-Penn State series will conclude Sunday at noon.
