TEMPE, Ariz. – A day after matching the Oregon single-game record with five hits, Courtney Ceo went 3-for-3 and the Ducks run ruled Boise State, 9-0, in five innings on Sunday afternoon in the finale of the Kajikawa Classic.
The Ducks (4-1) scored nine runs on 11 hits with no errors while the Broncos (1-4) were held scoreless on two hits with no errors. Oregon smacked five extra base hits in the game and have 18 extra base hits out of 48 total hits this season.
The Ducks, who dropped their season-opener, have won four straight and, with Sunday’s 9-0 win, have recorded back-to-back shutouts against Boise State and N.C. State (5-0), which was picked to finish second in the ACC preseason poll.
Ceo is 8-for-8 over the last two games and 10-for-11 in the Ducks’ last three contests. The senior third baseman also stole three bases in the game as the Ducks swiped five total. Oregon is 13-for-15 on stolen bases this season.
“Courtney had another great day,” said head coach Mike White. “She got it done at the plate and on the base paths with three stolen bases. She did a great job for us putting the pressue on.”
Ceo is hitting a team-high .579 on the season with two doubles, a triple, seven runs scored and four RBIs.
On Sunday against Boise State, Cheridan Hawkins picked up her third win as she combined with Karissa Hovinga for the Ducks’ second straight shutout.
“Cheridan built off of yesterday’s game,” White said. “She’s getting better and better each outing so far.”
Hawkins allowed one hit and two walks in four innings while Hovinga pitched a one-hit fifth inning.
On offense, the Ducks exploded for seven runs in the second inning and two more in the fourth.
Eight different Ducks tallied hits against the Broncos, with Ceo’s three hits leading the way. Catcher Janelle Lindvall continued her strong play in the first weekend of the season by going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs on Sunday. Lindvall is hitting .412 and is tied for the team lead with five RBIs.
Freshman shortstop Nikki Udria tallied another hit in the game, giving her four hits and five walks in five starts.
“On Nikki’s hit (Sunday) she fought off some pitches and worked her way back into the count and really drove one into the gap,” White said. “She’s also playing very well at short.”
Udria is hitting .400 this season with a team-leading .625 on-base percentage.
Oregon will be back in action next weekend at the Easton Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. The Ducks will meet Toledo and host UNLV on Friday, UT Chattanooga and Ohio State on Saturday and Cal State Northridge on Sunday.
