Oregon Sweeps Doubleheader From UL Softball

The second-ranked-ranked Oregon Ducks swept a non-conference doubleheader from the ninth-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns on Saturday, winning the first game, 10-2, before taking the second game, 2-1.

Oregon won the first game in five-inning mercy rule fashion, before coming out victorious in eight innings in the nightcap.

The two wins completed a three-game, weekend, non-conference sweep for the Ducks, and extended Louisiana's losing streak to three games, their longest of the year.

In the first game, Oregon scored three runs off a pair of Louisiana errors in the first inning and added two more runs in the second to build a 5-0 lead.

From there, the Ducks coasted, outhitting the Cajuns, 8-4, as they went on to their second mercy rule win in as many games.

The only UL runs came on solo home runs off the bats of Aleah Craighton and Samantha Walsh.

Charadin Hawkins (22-3), who tossed a no-hitter in Friday's 8-0 victory, earned the win for the Ducks as the southpaw scattered four hits and fanned seven, while Alex Stewart (10-1) suffered her first loss of the year inside the circle for Louisiana.

View the first game box score.

In the second game, Louisiana scored first in the top half of the fourth inning, on a two-out RBI single by Leandra Maly, scoring Craighton, giving them a 1-0 lead, one that held the lead until the seventh inning, when Oregon capitalized on a wild pitch and a pair of errors to send the game to extra innings.

Koral Costa delivered a one-out double, before being thrown out at home after Danica Mercado reached on an error by Kelsey Vincent. Pinch-hitter Gwen Svekis drew a walk to put runners on first and second before a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position.

Nikki Udria then hit a grounder that was misplayed by Hayley Hayden, allowing Mercado to score and tie the game at 1-1.

Oregon loaded the bases, courtesy of a single up the middle, a bunt single, and an error, before Janelle Lindvall lifted a sacrifice fly, scoring Jenna Lilley, to give the Ducks the 2-1 win.

Hawkins (23-3), who won all three games in the series, pitched 1.1 innings of relief to register the victory, while Jordan Wallace (14-4), was the hard-luck loser, not allowing an earned run.

View the second game box score.

With the two wins, Oregon improved to 41-5 on the season, while Louisiana fell to 34-8.

The Cajuns return to action on Saturday, when they travel to Monroe, Louisiana to take on the ULM Warhawks in Sun Belt Conference action.