Oregon softball opens Pac-12 season with series win against No. 15 California

Highlighted by back-to-back all-around performances, Oregon softball won the final two games against No. 15 California to open Pac-12 Conference play with a 2-1 series win at Jane Sanders Stadium.

The Ducks (14-9, 2-1 Pac-12) lost the first game of Friday’s double-header 11-5, then rebounded to beat the Golden Bears (21-3, 1-2) in nine innings, 4-3.

Oregon finished off the weekend with a 5-2 win on Saturday. 

Ariel Carlson hit first-inning home runs in both games on Friday, and Vallery Wong ended the extra-inning game with a walk-off RBI single in the ninth.

Kai Luschar, Ariel Carlson continue hot start at the plate

Leadoff hitter Kai Luschar got a hit in all three games and continues to lead the Ducks in hitting at .474 with a team-high tying 20 runs scored. She also leads the conference with 16 stolen bases and 37 hits.

Carlson went 5-for-10 over the weekend with two homers, a double, three RBIs and two stolen bases.

On the season, the senior is hitting .369 with six homers, six doubles, 25 RBIs and 20 runs scored.

Pitching settles down after opener

After giving up 11 runs on 11 hits in the series opener Friday afternoon, Oregon’s pitching staff held Cal to five runs and 19 hits combined over the next two games.

Morgan Scott, who started game two and pitched the final four innings of game three, combined to allow four runs and 11 hits over 9.2 innings in those wins.

Taylour Spencer (5-1) relieved Scott in game two and held the Bears scoreless over the final 3.1 innings.

Elise Sokolsky started game three and allowed one run and four hits through the first three innings before handing the ball over to Scott.

“I thought Elise was excellent today, coming in getting three innings for us,” Oregon coach Melyssa Lombardi said. “Then Morgan coming in and finishing it up. Our pitching staff over the weekend was a really big part of what we did this weekend because of the depth that we have there.”

Defense also shines in series

The Ducks have now gone five games without committing an error and their national top-10 fielding percentage improved to .985 on the season.

Oregon’s outfielders also made a pair of defensive gems Friday.

In the opening game, Carlson threw out a runner at third base from her position in right field. In the second game, Luschar gunned down a runner at the plate from left field.

“We work on defense so much as a team and I feel like it is all coming together in every aspect for the Ducks,” Luschar said. “It feels good having a good throw, you don’t get very many opportunities to get that, so it just gives you a little bit more confidence.”

What’s next for Oregon

The Ducks are in Salt Lake City this week for a three-game series against Utah on Friday (3 p.m.), Saturday (11 a.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.).

Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com.