The Oregon Ducks might have stumbled in their regular-season finale, but they've got plenty to celebrate heading into the Big Ten Tournament. No. 11 Oregon secured the No. 2 seed after winning their series against No. 5 UCLA in Los Angeles, proving that a tough loss doesn't define a weekend of dominance.
After falling 11-3 in five innings on Sunday, it would be easy to focus on that final score. But the Ducks (40-11, 20-4 Big Ten) had already done the heavy lifting, taking two of three games from the Bruins to extend their remarkable streak of 16 straight conference series wins over the past two seasons. That's the kind of consistency that builds champions.
"It's hard to set aside today, but I like where we are at as a team heading into the Big Ten Tournament," coach Melyssa Lombardi told GoDucks.com. "I like what we're doing offensively. We're scoring a lot of runs, and I like our depth and our approach on the mound. I think this team is in a really good place."
The series win was especially sweet because it bumped UCLA to the No. 3 seed, even though both teams finished tied for second place. Nebraska took the regular-season title (43-6, 23-1), but Oregon's eyes are firmly on the tournament prize at Maryland Softball Stadium in College Park, running Wednesday through Saturday.
Friday night set the tone, with the Ducks breaking a 2-2 tie by erupting for six runs in the top of the seventh inning. Stefini Ma'ake crushed two home runs, while Elon Butler and Rylee McCoy also went deep. Pitcher Elise Sokolsky (8-2) allowed just two runs on seven hits, improving to 4-0 since returning from injury on April 18.
Saturday's 13-11 slugfest was historic—Oregon's highest run total ever against UCLA. Ma'ake went 4-for-5 with three RBIs, Amari Harper was 3-for-4 with a home run, and Katie Flannery also went yard. The comeback moment came from Addison Amaral, who delivered a pinch-hit, bases-loaded double that scored three runs and erased a 6-3 deficit in the third inning.
Sunday's game saw the Ducks fall behind 8-0 after two innings, but that couldn't overshadow a weekend that proved Oregon is battle-tested and ready for the postseason. With a red-hot offense and a pitching staff finding its rhythm, the Ducks are flying high into the Big Ten Tournament.