Women’s College World Series Oregon vs. Arizona State Recap
Game 1: Oregon vs. Arizona State
In the opening game of the 2018 Women’s College World Series between Oregon and Arizona State, it was the Sun Devils who struck first in the top of the first inning. Kindra Hackbarth led off the inning with a single to give ASU its first base runner. Three hitters later, DeNae Chatman stepped up the plate and belted the first home run of the week, putting the Sun Devils up 2-0.
Oregon took advantage of their half of the inning with the first three batters laying down bunts. The first two caught the ASU defense off guard before the third bunt moved the runners to second and third with one out. Gwen Svekis delivered a base hit just over the glove of the Arizona State shortstop, plating two runs and tying the game 2-2.
Both starting pitchers, Oregon’s Miranda Elish and Arizona State’s G Juarez seemed to settle in during the second frame of play. In the bottom of the third, the Ducks struck again. This time, after a leadoff hit by Alexis Mack and a Svekis hit by pitch, Shannon Rhodes delivered a double scoring one. Lauren Burke followed it up with a triple clearing the other two base runners. After three, the Ducks led 5-2.
Arizona State responded and got on base with a single and a hit by a pitch in the top of the fourth with one out. Elish zoned in and recorded the next two outs via a pop out and a dribbler to the pitcher’s circle.
Oregon capitalized on a pair of ASU defensive errors in the bottom of the fourth and recorded another run, extending their lead to 6-2.
In the top of the fifth, the Sun Devils threatened again after recording two hits. With runners on first and second and two outs, Morgan Howe launched a three-run shot over the right-field wall.
Shannon Rhodes continued her hot streak at the plate and led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a double off the left-field wall. With one out and one on, Haley Cruse stepped up to the plate and blasted her second home run of the year, putting the Ducks up 8-5.
The top of the sixth brought a pitching change for Oregon. Right-handed pitcher Megan Kleist entered the circle for the Ducks and recorded three quick outs. The Ducks threatened again in the bottom of the frame after a walk and an infield single with two outs. This brought Shannon Rhodes to the plate, and again, the sophomore came up big. This time Rhodes belted a three-run home run over the left field wall, extending the Ducks lead to 11-5.
The Sun Devils wouldn’t go down quietly. After drawing a leadoff walk, followed by a base hit, Hackbarth delivered an 0-2 base hit up the middle to score a run. With Oregon leading 11-6, Kleist retired the next two batters via strikeout to end the game.
Oregon earned the opening game win over Arizona State after producing 11 runs on 14 hits and zero errors on defense. Up next the Ducks will face the winner of Oklahoma vs. Washington on Friday, June 1, first pitch is slated for 6 p.m CT.
