Stefini Ma’ake’s grand slam in the fifth inning helped No. 15 Oregon defeat Maryland 8-2 on April 12, completing a sweep of the Terrapins at Maryland Softball Stadium. The Ducks have now won eight consecutive games and will face No. 22 Washington next weekend in Eugene.
The victory matters as it strengthens Oregon’s position among the top teams in the Big Ten and extends their winning streak ahead of an important series against another ranked opponent.
Oregon scored early with a sacrifice fly from Emma Cox in the first inning before Ma’ake broke open a close game with her fifth home run of the season. After Maryland cut into Oregon’s lead, Cox responded with a three-run homer in the sixth to give Oregon more breathing room. Pitcher Lyndsey Grein struck out ten batters, earning her twenty-first win of the season and moving into eighth place on Oregon’s career strikeouts list.
“(Grein) was smiling the whole game, and I think she kept her composure well and she kept it simple and I think she just flat out competed today and wanted to sweep,” said Ma’ake after Sunday’s game.
Head Coach Melyssa Lombardi said about winning all three games in different ways: “I think it’s really important. After every game we talk about how the next game is not even going to look the same. And so it’s just continuing to stay in our process and know that there may be some adverse moments, but it doesn’t matter. If we just continue to have each other’s back, play for each other, play with each other, good things happen.”
Cox added: “I think we have a really versatile team, and I think we have a really tough lineup to throw through, and I think we got speed, we have power, but most of all, we have girls who want to win… We’re just trying to win every single time, and we believe that we’re gonna win, which is the most important part.”
Looking ahead to their next matchup against Washington at Jane Sanders Stadium starting Friday night, Lombardi said: “We are really excited… We cannot wait to welcome our alumni. We’ve been planning this weekend for a very, very long time… so they can have just an unbelievable weekend back home.”
