OKLAHOMA CITY – The top-seed Oregon softball team started the Women’s College World Series with a monster 11-6 win over Arizona State Thursday morning. The Ducks set a new record for runs scored at the World Series behind some solid small ball and a pair of homers.
Arizona State jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Oregon starter Miranda Elish in the first inning. The Ducks responded with a pair of runs in the home half of the first to tie the game and then took the lead for good with three-runs in the third. Oregon scored in every inning but the second against first team All-American Giselle Juarez.
Shannon Rhodes hit her 11th home run of the season and went 3-for-4 with four RBI to lead the Ducks’ offense. Alexis Mack also went 3-for-4 and Oregon had five players finish with multiple hits.
Up next for the Ducks is a date with the Washington Huskies on Friday. The winner will advance to Sunday, where they will be one win away from the finals. UO and UW will play at 4 p.m. Friday. The game will air on ESPN.
