Courtesy of Oregon Athletics – Rob Moseley
North Carolina State’s changeup artist was asked to change it up Saturday, in order to help the Wolfpack stave off elimination by Oregon in their NCAA Super Regional at Howe Field.
As usual, it didn’t take the Ducks long to adjust. And now they’re headed back to college softball’s promised land: Oklahoma City, and the Women’s College World Series.
Facing a steady diet of riseballs from changeup specialist Emily Weiman, the Ducks found their groove at the plate in the fourth inning, for the second day in a row. Another four-run rally keyed Oregon’s 9-3 victory before a record 2,061 fans bidding adieu to Howe Field, sending the Ducks (51-6) to Oklahoma City for the third time in four years.
“I couldn’t be any prouder of my team, and the way they performed through adversity,” UO coach Mike White said. “Sometimes playing at home is a lot more pressure, and I think our team performed well under the gun.”
The four-run fourth inning broke a 1-1 tie, and Janelle Lindvall‘s three-run homer capped another four-run outburst in the seventh. That made a winner of senior Karissa Hovinga (12-1), who pitched a postseason series clincher for the second straight weekend before being relieved for the final two innings by UO ace Cheridan Hawkins.
Hovinga allowed two runs — one earned — on two hits and two walks over five innings. She beat North Dakota State a weekend earlier to advance the Ducks to Super Regionals.
“Hov’s had a lot of consistent outings the last few games,” said Lindvall, the UO catcher. “I’m very confident in her.”
Oregon gave Hovinga a run to work with in the third inning, when Danica Mercado sparked the offense for the second straight day. She singled, stole second when the Wolfpack left the base uncovered between pitches, then scored on a single by Nikki Udria.
North Carolina State (38-22) tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the third — the Wolfpack were designated the home team for Saturday’s game — but the Ducks rallied in the fourth. That’s nothing new for a UO team that has scored 110 runs in the fourth inning this season, 31 more than any other frame.
The fourth-inning rally also came after two outs were recorded, for the second day in a row. With two on and two out, the Ducks got consecutive RBI singles by Koral Costa, Mercado, Alyssa Gillespie and Udria to take a 5-1 lead.
By that time, the Ducks were on to Weiman’s increased reliance on the riseball. They laid off pitches up in the zone and, with two out, shortened up their swings; all four singles were chopped on the ground through the infield.
“We were trying to take advantage of our hard infield,” White said of a surface that is being transferred to Eugene’s Marist High for a practice field designated for use by the Ducks during the construction of the new Jane Sanders Stadium on the Howe Field site.
“We knew we wanted to pressure their infield with our speed — but you can’t use your speed to steal first base. That slap hit works really well, especially when you’re struggling to find your timing against a tough pitcher.”
The fourth-inning rally helped chase Weiman, the NCAA’s active career leader in appearances. It was the final appearance of the senior’s career, and she left in the fifth inning to a loud ovation from not only the North Carolina State fans in attendance, but the home crowd as well.
“They know softball here,” Weiman said, calling the moment “pretty special.”
Hovinga got to enjoy a similar moment, throwing one pitch in the sixth before being replaced by Hawkins. The UO ace allowed a home run but recorded six outs all by strikeout — giving her 20 strikeouts in nine Super Regional innings this postseason.
The final pitch thrown at Howe Field gave Hawkins her sixth strikeout of the game. The next one she throws will be in Oklahoma City.
