Oregon vs. Mississippi State - 2020 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
Game 2 (Oregon 7, Mississippi State 2) – After falling behind in the top of the fourth inning, Oregon answered with a five-run bottom of the fourth on the way to a 7-2 win over Mississippi State to cap off the doubleheader sweep.
How it Happened: Down 2-1 headed to the bottom of the fourth, the Ducks responded by batting around and scoring five runs on five hits to take a 6-2 lead. Wong delivered the go-ahead RBIs with a two-run double to right-center, scoring Ariel Carlson and Hannah Galey to make it 3-2. Cruse followed two batters later with a run-scoring single to left before Cid capped off the frame with a two-RBI single back up the middle. Allee Bunker added some insurance in the sixth with a two-out RBI single up the middle to plate Cruse.
Yanez again came out of the bullpen for the start of the fifth and gave up a leadoff triple, but worked out of the jam to keep the Oregon lead at four. She again stranded a runner at third in the sixth inning and worked around a one-out double in the seventh to finish off the win.
Once again, Oregon's duo of Cruse and McGowan got things started, teaming up to put up a run right off the bat. After Cruse led off with a triple to right field, McGowan delivered her fourth RBI of the day with a single up the middle. The Ducks loaded the bases later in the inning, but couldn't push across anymore.
Mississippi State jumped in front in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs on two hits off of UO starter Jordan Dail. Anna Kate Segars tied things up with a single before the Bulldogs took the lead one batter later following an Aquana Brownlee sacrifice fly.
Game 2 Box Score Notes: Cruse went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored, finishing a homer shy of the cycle … McGowan turned in yet another multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI … Cid and Wong each came up with key two-RBI base hits … Yanez threw three shutout innings of relief again, striking out two and walking none … Oregon pitching held Mississippi State to 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine runners on.
Overall Notables: Oregon's no. 1 and no. 2 hitters, Cruse and McGowan, combined to go 11-for-15 (.733) with seven runs scored and five RBIs … Cruse finished the doubleheader 6-for-8 with five runs scored, an RBI, double and triple … McGowan was 5-for-7 with four RBIs and a pair of doubles … The Ducks' offense finished with a combined 24 hits while going 12-of-29 with runners in scoring position … Dail, Diaz and Yanez combined to throw 13 innings and give up just two runs, while striking out 14 and walking just two … Ducks' pitching held Mississippi State and Bethune-Cookman to just 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position over the two games.
On Deck: The Ducks will have another doubleheader Friday at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with games against Notre Dame (3 p.m.) and Idaho State (5:30 p.m.).