TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona committed a season-high-tying three errors, leading to three unearned Oregon runs, as the No. 1 Ducks downed the ninth-ranked Wildcats 7-3 on Thursday in the series opener.
A two-run Kelsey Rodriguez home run and two Chelsea Goodacre homers were not enough, as Oregon ace Cheridan Hawkins (29-4) struck out nine and walked just one in her complete-game effort. Arizona (40-12, 13-9 Pac-12) managed three runs on six hits against the southpaw.
Estela Pinon (16-6) countered with solid complete-game effort of her own, allowing just four earned runs with six strikeouts in the contest. The senior scattered 11 hits and was able to strand 10 runners behind her.
In addition to Rodriguez's two-run homer, her second in as many games, Katiyana Mauga registered an RBI double, giving her 53 RBI on the season.
A Pinon walk and a pair of Arizona errors plated an Oregon run in the first. Alyssa Gillespie added a two-RBI double in the top of the second to give the Ducks (48-6-1, 2-1 Pac-12) an early 3-0 lead.
Courtney Rodriguez drew a leadoff walk to begin the bottom of the third. After Hawkins retired the next two Wildcats, Courtney's sister, Kelsey, hit a two-run bomb to bring Arizona within a run.
In the fourth, after three Oregon singles loaded the bases with no one out, an error and a hit batsman brought in a pair of runs. The bases remained loaded with no one out, but Pinon retired the next three batters to leave them stranded.
Janelle Lindvall extended Oregon's lead with a leadoff homer in the sixth. Later in the inning, Koral Costa singled in a run to make it 7-2.
The Cats got one run back in the bottom half when Chelsea Goodacre doubled and Katiyana Mauga doubled her home to make it 7-3.
