TEMPE, Ariz. – Oregon couldn t recover after facing an early deficit following some costly miscues in a 9-3 loss to No. 1 UCLA in a nonconference showdown Monday. The loss ended the eighth-ranked Ducks perfect start to the season and snapped a 15-game winning streak dating back to the end of last year.
How it Happened: The Bruins (7-1) got to Oregon starting pitcher Jordan Dail right off the bat, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning to make it 2-0. After a leadoff double, the Bruins Aaliyah Jordan hit a two-run shot to left field to put the Ducks in an early hole.
Fresno State softball struggles against Oregon pitching
Fresno State s Adrianna Noriega hits the ball in the second inning of the game against Oregon at Margie Wright Diamond on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. (Kameron Thorn /The Collegian) Feb 21, 2021
At the beginning of the season, Fresno State softball head coach Linda Garza embraced what she called “the Bulldog way.”
“We’re not scared of anybody… I just think it’s the Bulldog way: anyone, anytime, anyplace.” Garza said.
And while the Bulldogs may be ready, they weren’t able to deliver against teams like No. 1 UCLA and Loyola Marymount University.
And when No. 10 Oregon (6-0) came into town, Fresno State (2-3) struggled to figure out Ducks’ starting pitcher Brooke Yanez in Saturday night’s 10-2 loss.
Brito went 3 for 4 with a solo home run and RBI triple and Yanez allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in a complete game as the No. 10 Ducks topped host Fresno State 10-2 on Saturday.
No. 10 Oregon softball opens 2021 season with appreciation to play, high aspirations
Updated Feb 12, 2021;
EUGENE Three-hundred and thirty-eight days.
That’s how long it’s been between games for Oregon softball, which like every other spring sports team saw its 2020 season halted on March 12 due to the pandemic.
Futures were thrown into flux. Seniors Haley Cruse and Samaria Diaz initially prepared to move on, then were granted an additional year of eligibility. They’ll be two of the core pieces for the No. 10/11 Ducks as they open they 2021 campaign this morning (9 a.m.) against Weber State and Montana as part of a five-game weekend at Grand Canyon in Phoenix.