Game One. Oregon softball wasted no time establishing dominance in its 10-0 home-opening win over New Mexico on Wednesday, pairing senior ace Jessica Moore with a four-run jolt in the first that proved to be enough.
Moore (12-3) allowed just one hit and tallied four strikeouts and got immediate offensive teammates who scored four in the first despite leaving the bases loaded.
Things remained quiet until the fifth, when New Mexico starting pitcher Kaela DeBroeck gave up a run of doubles by Samantha Pappas and Alexa Peterson helped extend the lead to seven in the fifth.
In the sixth, sophomore center fielder Janie Takeda ended the ball game with a walk-off home run, blasting the ball over the right field wall and ending the game early on the mercy rule.
Howe Field has enjoyed a bit of a renovation while the team has been across the country competing in national tournaments. New bleachers along the left-field line offer fans a better view of the field, and a custom windscreen is expected to be installed by the next series Oregon hosts — a three-game tilt with Stanford starting March 23.
Turning point. This one was over almost before it began. With Moore on the mound, Oregon needed just the first inning to put up the runs it needed.
Game Two. First-home-game jitters? Not for Cheridan Hawkins.
Oregon immediately faced the Lobos again, this time with the freshman lefty on the bump, and secured its second win of the day, 4-0.
Hawkins has been a revelation in her first year, entering the game with a team-high 82 strikeouts. She added to that mark with 13 against New Mexico, striking out the full side three times in her first outing at Oregon’s Howe Field. Her 13 Ks is her second-best of the season, behind her program record-tying 15 strikeouts against Boston College earlier this month.
Oregon got its offensive burst in the fourth inning behind a two-run double, backed by Janelle Lindvall’s base-hit RBI.
On the horizon. The win gives Oregon (23-4) an early perfect mark at home before Pac-12 play begins March 23 against Stanford. The Ducks will host the Cardinal for a three-game series before traveling to Seattle to face Washington.