Oregon softball defeated the previously unbeaten Washington team on Apr. 17, rallying for a five-run sixth inning to secure an 8-4 victory at Jane Sanders Stadium.
The win came during the stadium’s 10th anniversary celebration and brought Oregon (33-9, 14-2 Big Ten) within one game of conference-leading Washington (34-10, 15-1) with two games left in their weekend series.
Senior Amari Harper said, “We could really feel their energy from the first pitch on. So I think we kind of carried that into all seven innings, and I think it really helped us in those tight moments, putting pressure on the other team rather than us.” Emma Cox hit two home runs—including a grand slam—in her second career multi-homer game and set a new personal best with six runs batted in. Cox also caught pitcher Lyndsey Grein’s seven-inning performance that included ten strikeouts. “She’s an absolute competitor, and what she does rubs off on everybody else,” UO coach Melyssa Lombardi said about Grein. “She is so confident, and she gives us confidence as well.”
With this result, Oregon has an opportunity to tie for first place in the Big Ten if they win Saturday’s matchup against Washington and Nebraska or potentially take sole possession of first place with a sweep. Last year around this time, Oregon won a key series against UCLA at Jane Sanders Stadium that proved important for their conference title run.
Cox emphasized focusing on each moment: “We try to stay in the present moment as much as we possibly can… So we’re just trying to reset and then take the next right step.” The Ducks’ rally was sparked by Katie Flannery’s two-out single after falling behind in her count during the sixth inning. Subsequent hits from teammates loaded the bases before Harper drew a walk for the go-ahead run; Cox then followed with her grand slam.
Harper reflected on facing new pitchers under pressure: “She’s a new pitcher — she’s gonna be more nervous than I am, honestly… Be patient with picking my pitches and just let the game happen.” Afterward, Cox credited her teammates’ efforts leading up to her pivotal at-bat: “I was just grateful for the opportunity to be in that at-bat… when we pass the bat that well, it just always works out.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s rematch at Jane Sanders Stadium (3 p.m.), Harper commented: “Knowing that they’re going to come back even harder tomorrow, we have to be prepared to match that energy and be even higher… Just trying to reset that mindset on, it’s a new game. Clean slate.”
