No. 18 Oregon secured two comeback victories on Friday during the opening day of the Jane Sanders Classic, overcoming early deficits in both games to defeat Oregon State and Sacramento State.
The Ducks (16-5) played before a season-high crowd of 2,045 at Jane Sanders Stadium. In the first game, they fell behind as Oregon State (9-15) scored three runs in the top of the first inning. Oregon responded by tying the score in the second and taking a permanent lead after Amari Harper hit a two-run home run in the fourth.
Against Sacramento State (17-5), Oregon trailed 6-3 entering the bottom of the fifth but managed to score once in that inning and three times in the sixth for a 7-6 win. Kaylynn Jones singled up the middle with two outs in the sixth to drive in both the tying and go-ahead runs.
“These guys even early in the game, they knew they were going to come back,” said coach Melyssa Lombardi. “Our leaders talked about, let’s just get one each inning. And so just for them to know that before it happens, I think that just says a lot about this group and their ability to find ways to come back and win.”
In Game 1, pitcher Elise Sokolsky recovered from allowing three early runs by holding Oregon State scoreless over more than four innings. She finished with four strikeouts and improved her record to 3-1.
Oregon’s offense was led by Stefini Ma’ake and Amari Harper, who each went 3-for-4 against Oregon State. Harper drove in four runs, including her fifth home run of the season. Elon Butler extended her hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the sixth inning.
“I think Stef [Ma’ake] is doing a great job in the counts that she’s hitting, like when she’s aggressive, and she puts herself in good counts, things happen,” said Lombardi. “And so, I think her recognizing, you know what, my bats that have been good up to this point I’m putting myself in a really good place. And so right now, you see what she’s doing, and she’s putting herself in good counts.”
In Game 2 against Sacramento State, Jones contributed both offensively with her third career home run and defensively as part of key plays late in the game. Butler extended her hitting streak again—to 13 games—with a double.
Trailing by four runs after three innings, Oregon started its comeback with Jones’ solo home run followed by Butler’s sixth homer of the season later on. The decisive rally came when nine Ducks batted in the sixth inning; Jones delivered with two outs to give Oregon its first lead since early on.
“We have just been playing for each other,” said Jones. “I mean, again, it’s just a game, and to know that we all love playing this game, and all we want to do is win.”
Lyndsey Grein pitched more than four scoreless innings of relief against Sacramento State—striking out eight—and earned her eighth win of the year.
“In general, my job is to always have my teammates backs, so whoever, regardless of whether I’m relieving or starting, that’s the approach I have going into it,” said Grein “My goal was to just leave today with two wins, and that was the goal and motivation for today.”
Grein also commented on ending Game 2 with a double play: “That was pretty sweet. I will say there’s so much work that goes into those awesome plays like that. Our defense puts a lot of time into their craft… So whenever those double plays or things that come up that we work on in practice come up in the game it’s really fun and exciting and something that we celebrate.”
Ayanna Shaw extended her hitting streak against Oregon State before being held hitless later; Harper collected her 100th career RBI during Game 1.
Oregon will continue play at Jane Sanders Classic on Saturday facing Nevada at 3:30 p.m., followed by another matchup against Sacramento State at 6 p.m.
