With a WCWS bid on the line and another great home crowd behind them, the Ducks fought back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Nebraska 4-3 in 12 innings to force a game three. The game was long and grueling, but dominant pitching and 14 hits later, the Ducks found themselves right back in the series as they head into the third and final game of the series with momentum riding alongside them.
To begin the game, both teams came out ready to fire on the offensive side of the ball. By the end of the second inning, the score was tied up at 1-1 after a lead-off solo home run from pitcher Tatum Edwards coming in the top of the first and an RBI single from Janie Takeda in the top of the second. Both teams appeared ready to produce better offense in game two and it was shown throughout the game.
The game didn’t truly pick up however until the bottom of the fourth. After a lead-off single from Gabby Banda to begin the inning, the Cornhuskers came out and recorded back-to-back runs to give themselves a comfortable 3-1 lead heading into the top of the fifth. The runs came from a familiar Brooke Thomason — who blasted a grand slam home run in game one — after an RBI single and an eventual score on an Oregon error.
With two innings remaining heading into the top of the sixth, the Ducks were in a time crunch to score as they were down two runs. Despite having their season and a WCWS bid on the line, the Ducks managed to step up their offense in the sixth and seventh inning as they eventually tied up the game at 3-3 to force extra innings. Stepping up under the spotlight were Janelle Lindvall and Courtney Ceo, who were both key in the Ducks’ late game comeback. Lindvall recorded a crucial solo home run in the top of the sixth to bring the Ducks within one run, while Ceo recorded a spectacular triple off a Nebraska error to set up an eventual tying run for the Ducks.
Heading into the extra innings, the Ducks had momentum on their side and a home crowd that has been behind them since day one of the season. With two outs remaining and Takeda on second, Samantha Pappas stepped up to the plate and calmly recored an RBI single to give the Ducks a slim, but crucial 4-3 heading into the final two innings. Pappas has been one of the more clutch players on the Ducks squad this season, and she did just enough to give her team an opportunity to win game three and the series after dropping game one.
Another player coming up big for the Ducks was freshman pitcher Cheridan Hawkins who finished with a game high 11 strikeouts. Hawkins came in in the bottom of the fifth to relieve Moore and simply took the game by the horns and never let go. Without Hawkins, the Ducks may have given up game two and the series, and it is because of her clutch performance that the Ducks are warming up for a third and final game.
As the Ducks head into game three of the Eugene Super Regional series, the same keys to the game will apply: Consistent batting and dominant pitching. These have been the keys to success for the Ducks thus far and it will carry them to the WCWS if they can manage to get past what must be a frustrated Nebraska team. Both teams will virtually have a clean slate as they are tied at one game a piece, but if there is a team that has the edge heading into the final game, it will be the Ducks. Neither the home crowd or the Ducks had a postseason exit in mind and game three will determine which team simply wants it more.
Game time is set for 4:30 p.m.