Oregon head coach Kathy Arendsen has been talking for weeks about how the Ducks softball team is laying a foundation for a better future. If you want a cheerleader for your team, I don’t think you could ask for a better one than Arendsen. During the men’s basketball stretch that included 14 straight Pac-10 losses, Ernie Kent could become short with media and you could tell it wore on him.
With Arendsen, you’d think they were 33-15, not 15-33. That’s probably her tactic. The present has been awfully ugly, but today the Ducks salvaged a bit during senior weekend with a 2-1 win over Arizona in 10 innings at Howe Field. Something worked today.
Blair Williamson got a single to lead off the 10th inning, then moved to second base with a Ashley Kivett single. Williamson got into second barely beating the tag after Kivett’s single went deep up the middle and the second baseman made a play on the ball.
Lindsey Chambers came through with a double to the left-center gap on the first pitch off UA’s Sarah Akamine that scored Williamson.
Oregon’s Sam Skillingstad threw a gem of a game, although I don’t have the stats right in front of me. Arizona got 10 hits off the Ducks, but only one run.
The Ducks take on Arizona State in a two-day series that lasts through Saturday tomorrow at Howe Field, beginning at 4 p.m.
