Albany Softball Drops NCAA Opener to #13 Oregon; Faces Penn State Saturday

Albany Softball Drops NCAA Opener to #13 Oregon; Faces Penn State Saturday

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Courtesy: Albany Athletic Communications

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -  Jessica Moore struck out nine in a complete-game performance to lead Oregon to a 3-1 win over UAlbany in the first round of the NCAA Softball Regional Tournament at Beard Field on Friday afternoon. The Great Danes will play Penn State, after the Nittany Lions dropped a 2-0 decision to Fordham in the second game of the day.

The Great Danes loaded the bases in the top of the first inning, but were unable to capitalize on a hit by Diane MacDowell along with an Oregon error. UAlbany then scored in the top of the second, as Jess Bergin led off with a double that sailed over the centerfielder's head. Bergin then came home on a sacrifice fly by Mel Herdon to give the Great Danes a 1-0 lead.

Oregon tied the game and then took a one-run lead in the bottom of the second. Christie Nieto singled up the middle to score Kaitlin Vitek to tie the score at 1-1. Allie Burger followed with a single to third base, and Samantha Pappas made it home on a UAlbany throwing error on the play. The Ducks added another run in the bottom of the sixth as Alexa Peterson knocked a base hit into center scoring pinch runner Lauren Kotz.

"I think we played a pretty good game against a tough team," said UAlbany head coach Chris Cannata, who has now guided the UAlbany program to four NCAA Regional Tournaments. "We didn't get a big hit when we needed it. We didn't play scared, which we talked about in our pre-game meeting, and for a group who hasn't been in here before, they believed that they earned their spot."

Moore improved to 22-9 with the win in the circle for Oregon (40-14). UAlbany's Brittany MacFawn threw a complete-game, falling to 15-7 on the season, while scattering seven hits and fanning three Ducks.

"Brittany pitched a great game," said Cannata. "She kept her composure and threw some great pitches when we needed them. It's a tough situation for a senior to come into, but for a freshman it really shows a lot about her character."

UAlbany (28-22) will play in the tournament's first elimination game against Penn State on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Nittany Lion Softball Park.