SOFTBALL

The Ducks' season is on the brink after losing Game 1 of softball Super Regional

Chris Hansen
Register-Guard
Oregon's Morgan Scott (23) pitches during a game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (OSU) and the Oregon Ducks in the Stillwater Super Regional of the NCAA softball tournament in Stillwater, Okla., Thursday, May 25, 2023. Oklahoma State won 8-1.

Oregon's softball season is one game from being over.

The Ducks lost 8-1 to Oklahoma State in their NCAA Tournament Super Regional opener Thursday night at Cowgirls Stadium in Stillwater, Okla.

The best-of-three series continues at 3 p.m. Friday on ESPN2.

Oregon (38-16) went up 1-0 on an RBI single by Alyssa Daniell in the second inning that scored KK Humphreys.

But Daniell would also be the last Duck to reach base as Cowgirls' starter Lexi Kilfoyl (15-5) followed with 17 straight outs to wrap up her complete-game three-hitter that included three strikeouts and no walks.

Oklahoma State scored three runs in the fourth and four in the fifth — with five of those seven runs unearned — to give Kilfoyl more than enough support.

Oregon coach Melyssa Lombardi during a game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (OSU) and the Oregon Ducks in the Stillwater Super Regional of the NCAA softball tournament in Stillwater, Okla., Thursday, May 25, 2023.

"This is best two out of three," Oregon coach Melyssa Lombardi said. "We wanted to get the first one. We didn't, but we've still got two more games to go. And what I love about this team is that any time something hasn't gone our way, we've learned from it, grown from it and it's made us better."

Kai Luschar and Humphreys had the Ducks' other two hits, as they singled to lead off the first and second innings, respectively.

Oregon's KK Humphreys (13) scores a run beside Oklahoma State's Lexi Kilfoyl (8) inn the second inning of a game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (OSU) and the Oregon Ducks in the Stillwater Super Regional of the NCAA softball tournament in Stillwater, Okla., Thursday, May 25, 2023. Oklahoma State won 8-1.

Oregon starter Morgan Scott (13-7) took the loss. She threw 3⅓ innings and allowed three runs, two earned runs and five hits. She also had one strikeout and two walks.

"You're never out until the last out … or the last pitch has been thrown in the game," Oregon second baseman Allee Bunker said. "So I think that's our mentality going forward. Softball is a game of ups and downs, and you need to know how to regroup and get better from losses and failure. And so I think tomorrow, we're just excited for the opportunity to play again together."

Oregon Ducks softball vs. Oklahoma State Cowgirls

Best-of-three series at Cowgirl Stadium in Stillwater:

Game 1: Oklahoma State 8, Oregon 1

Game 2: 3 p.m. Friday, ESPN2

Game 3: TBD Saturday (if necessary)

Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter@chansen_RG or email atchansen@registerguard.com. For more sports coverage, visit registerguard.com. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to get unlimited access and support local journalism.