Oregon softball’s Melyssa Lombardi speaks after win over Idaho State
Oregon softball coach Melyssa Lombardi speaks after the Ducks’ 5-1 win over Idaho State in the NCAA Eugene Regional at Jane Sanders Stadium.
Oregon’s offense was silenced Saturday afternoon and its path to the NCAA super regionals just got more difficult.
Mississippi State pitcher Alyssa Faircloth threw a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts as the Bulldogs beat the Ducks 4-0 in the NCAA Eugene Regional at Jane Sanders Stadium.
Faircloth allowed just one baserunner the entire game on a first-inning walk to the second batter she faced.
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Oregon will now have to play again Saturday night against Saint Mary’s, which defeated Idaho State in a Saturday elimination game. The Ducks and Gaels will start at approximately 7:35 p.m.
The Ducks will have to win three straight games to stave off NCAA Tournament elimination and advance to the super regionals.
Playing again without ace pitcher Lyndsey Grein, who is out with a left eye infection, Oregon started Elise Sokolsky (9-4), who allowed two runs in the first inning and another in the third before being replaced by Maddie Milhorn in the third.
Milhorn allowed three hits and one run over the final 4⅓ innings.
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Oregon vs. Saint Mary’s live updates, highlights, stats
The Gaels scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to pull ahead. The Ducks trail for the first time in this elimination game.
After giving up consecutive singles to open the bottom of the fourth, Oregon starter Taylour Spencer is being replaced by Elise Sokolsky.
Rain has been steadily falling here at Jane Sanders Stadium as the game moves to the bottom of the fourth, though both teams seem content to play on.
The third baseman belts a two-run homer with two outs in the fourth inning to put the Ducks up 3-0.
The Gaels’ Hannah Ferguson hit a two-out double and moved to third on wild pitch, but Taylour Spencer got a strikeout to end the inning and keep Saint Mary’s scoreless.
Amari Harper hit a lead-off single but the Ducks left her stranded as the Gaels got three straight outs.
Elon Butler’s flyout to the warning track ended the inning with Ayanna Shaw on second base.
Taylour Spencer allowed one hit but the Ducks kept the Gaels off the scoreboard.
Just like she was in the first two games, Grein is in the Oregon dugout with a bandage over her left eye. She’s been out with an eye infection through the first two days of the Eugene Regional.
Elon Butler’s lead-off homer was one of three hits for the Ducks in the first inning.
Starter Madeline Haun has been replaced by Mia Nishikawa one out into the first inning after giving up a lead-off homer to Elon Butler and a one-out single to Stefini Ma’ake.
After getting no-hit by Mississippi State earlier today, the Ducks’ leadoff hitter homered to left field to open the game against Saint Mary’s. It’s 1-0 Oregon top of the first.
Ducks: RF – Elon Butler; LF – Amari Harper; 1B – Stefini Ma’ake; C – Emma Cox; 2B – Kaylynn Jones; DP – Rylee McCoy; CF – Ayanna Shaw; SS – Taryn Ho; 3B – Katie Flannery. P – Taylour Spencer
Gaels: LF – Camille Lara; RF – Hannah Ferguson; 3B – Sam Buckley; 2B – Alex Cutonilli; C – Andrea De La Rosa; DP – Kiah Silva; CF – Tori Cervantes; 1B – Taylor Lane; SS – Mia Zabat. P – Madeline Haun
What time does Oregon softball vs. Saint Mary’s start?
- Date: Saturday, May 16
- Time: 7:35 p.m. PT
- Where: Jane Sanders Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
What TV channel is Oregon softball vs. Saint Mary’s on today?
- TV: No TV
- Streaming: ESPN+
NCAA Eugene Regional softball tournament schedule
Friday, May 15
- Game 1: Mississippi State 3, Saint Mary’s 2, 8 innings
- Game 2: Oregon 5, Idaho State 1
Saturday, May 16
- Game 3 – Mississippi State 4, Oregon 0
- Game 4 – Saint Mary’s 3, Idaho State 1
- Game 5 – Saint Mary’s vs. Oregon, 7:35 p.m. (PT)
Sunday, May 17
- Game 6 – Mississippi State vs. Game 5 winner, 4:30 p.m. (PT)
- Game 7 – Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser (if necessary), 7 p.m. (PT)
Chris Hansen covers University of Oregon football, men’s basketball, track and field, cross country and softball for The Register-Guard. You can reach him at [email protected] and you can follow him on X @chansen_RG
