Jessica Moore’s hot start on the mound has come as no surprise to the Ducks.
After all, the senior is statistically the greatest pitcher in Oregon softball history. By the end of the year, barring injury, the All-American Moore will push her program-record career numbers in strikeouts and wins further out of reach for others. During the Ducks’ 13-3 start, she has averaged 1.04 strikeouts per inning (up from 0.84 last season), and with a 7-2 record, the Sutter, Calif., native has notched more than half of the wins herself.
She leads the team in ERA (1.31), strikeouts (50) and complete games (2), and despite pitching 48 of the team’s 101 innings this year, she’s given up just 12 walks.
What has been surprising, especially during Oregon’s unblemished streak of wins in last weekend’s Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, is the play of a freshman quickly establishing herself as the second best in the bullpen.
In her first season as a Duck, Cheridan Hawkins has proven she’s ready for collegiate play. The lefty has struck out 47 in just 33 innings of work, appearing in just one fewer game than Moore and consistently giving Oregon head coach Mike White a “plan B” when Moore’s arm tires out.
The two-time prep All-American was tabbed as ESPN’s sixth-best pitching recruit last season after amassing nearly 1,300 Ks and breaking the state’s strikeout record.
“Cheridan is a really hard worker, and adding a left hander who can throw a riseball will complement our pitching staff,” White said after Hawkins became a Duck.
However, few could have predicted Hawkins would see as much action as she has — 10 appearances, four starts and a 4-1 record. The pitching has been vital, as Oregon has found itself in more than a few close games already this season. In the MNCC, for instance, the Ducks edged out three wins by two or fewer runs, including a 2-1 win over Cal Poly with Hawkins in the circle.
With her developing and Moore continuing her run of excellence — not to mention the dependable play of sophomore Karissa Hovinga, who has struck out 20 in 20 innings of play — Oregon has found itself a bullpen already in midseason form.
The Ducks will try to add to its six-game win streak with a full slate of games in the Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla., this weekend.