FPN Game of the Week: No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 5 LSU
The FPN game of the week will feature two top 10 teams this weekend. It was not easy to pick a game as there are numerous interesting match-ups across the country. We went with an SEC vs. Pac-12 game featuring No. 2 Oregon and No. 5 LSU. Oregon heads into the weekend with a 9-1 record. Oregon suffered its first loss of the season to SEC foe No. 15 Ole Miss on Saturday, 1-0 in a nine-inning pitcher’s duel. The LSU Tigers are a perfect 12-0 on the season, the issue is they will be stepping up the level of competition this weekend. This will give us a better idea where they fit nationally.
When: Saturday, February 24th, 12:30 PT
At the Plate
Oregon enters the weekend with the fifth best team average (.400) in the country. They have four everyday players batting at or above .500 in Jenna Lilley (.567), Alexis Mack (.543), Shannon Rhodes (.500), and Mary Iakopo (.500). Right behind them is DJ Sanders (.381) who has six home runs and 14 RBI’s and Gwen Svekis (.357) with five home runs and 15 RBI’s. To this point, the Ducks offense has been firing on all cylinders outscoring their opponents 92-13. They are also tied for third in the country in home runs with 19 on the season. There is no easy out in this line-up which means opposing pitcher will need to be at the top of their game.
LSU comes into the weekend hitting .311 as a team. Although they have not hit poorly, for the most part, they have not been explosive either. The Tigers have just three home runs through their first ten games. Three players are batting at .400 or above in Amanda Doyle (.429), Amber Serrett (.417), and Aliyah Andrews (.400). Doyle leads the team in RBI’s also with 12. Andrews is dangerous with her speed having stolen 12 of 13 thus far this season. LSU will have to step up to the plate as this will be the toughest staff they have faces this season.
Advantage: Oregon
In the Circle
Oregon’s Megan Kleist, who took the loss to Ole Miss, leads the team in strikeouts with 35 in 26.1 innings of work. Miranda Elish (3-0) has a 0.00 ERA with 27 strikeouts to just one walk. Maggie Balint (3-0) has been sharp also with a 2.23 ERA and 18 strikeouts. The Ducks are in good hands no matter who enters the circle for them. Being three deep is a major asset for any team at the college level.
LSU is right there with the Ducks when it comes to pitching with the one-two punch of Carley Hoover (4-0) and Allie Walljasper (4-0). These two have been the foundation for several years now and their experience shows. Hoover has posted a 0.25 ERA over 28 innings of work striking out 37. Walljasper also has worked 28 innings for a 0.50 ERA and 22 strikeouts. Not much separates these two staffs.
Advantage: Draw
Opinion
This one is setting up to be a pitchers dual. Of course the minute we say that both offenses come alive. But, on paper, this will be a battle between two great staffs. Oregon has an explosive offense so it will be interesting to see how they do against proven and seasoned pitchers like Hoover and Walljasper. The Ducks had their issues with Ole Miss at the plate so we never know. Outside of that one game, they have been a scoring machine. The issue for LSU is that this is the best pitching staff they have faced and scoring has not been their greatest asset so far this season. With that said, we have to learn towards Oregon in this one.
Pick: Oregon
