Ducks’ moment in the sun turns cloudy
By STEVE SPATZ
Of the Emerald
Oregon’s baseball squad had a brief moment in the sun
Friday afternoon, using the glare of old Sol to gain a 4-3
11th-inning win over the Oregon State Beavers in Howe Field
But with the disappearence of the sun Saturday, so too did
the luck of the Ducks dry out. Battling a steady drizzle in
Corvallis, Oregon lost both halves of a doubleeader to the
Beavers, 7-1 and 2-1, dropping to last place in the Northern
Division when it was all said and done.
Taking advantage of the other team’s mistakes was the key
to this series, and Oregon did just that on Friday. They were
aided when OSU leftfielder Dave Backen lost two key fly balls in
the sun, leading to Oregon’s comeback runs in the ninth inning,
and the winner in the eleventh.
But on Saturday, the tables were turned. OSU could do no
wrong, and silly mental mistakes by the Ducks didn’t hurt the
Beavers’ cause at all.
"They capitalized on our mistakes," fumed Oregon coach
Mel Krause after Saturday’s losses. "You can’t play like that and
expect to win."
To Oregon’s credit, OSU took absolute control of the opener
and never gave the Ducks a chance. The Beavers came through
with the big plays at the right time, pushing seven runs across the
plate on just six hits.
Beaver double plays ended just about every Duck threat
until the seventh when they finally scored on Steve Crum’s
sacrifice.
"Oregon State deserved to win," said Krause. "They got
men in scoring position and put them across with timely hitting."
But the second game was no such story. Oregon grabbed a
1-0 lead in the third inning on a two-out single by Mike Black,
scoring designated hitter Bob Kreuger
OSU tied it in the fourth with a solo home run by Bob
McNair,and it stayed that way until the eighth
With runners on first and third, and one out, OSU’s Bob
Hunsinger rapped a hard grounder straight back to relief pitcher
Jim Givens. Givens hesitated with the ball, missing the oppor
tunity to execute an inning-ending double play, and finally threw
the ball to second base for a force out Meanwhile, OSU’s runner
at third, Bob Bishop, scored the game winner almost unnoticed.
Friday is the day the Ducks would like to remember — but
only the last few innings. The Beavers had things all their way,
leading 3-0 going into the bottom of the ninth. But then Oregon
got it together.
Photo by Steve Dykes
Oregon’s Steve Crum had something to smile about last Friday —
he drove in the tying runs in the Ducks' eventual 4-3 win over
Oregon State.
Oregon's Mike Carr punched a double into centerfield, then
scored a moment later on Rick Moonitz’s single, his fourth of the
day. After Jim Jordan walked, Crum smashed a high fly into left.
But OSU’S Backen never had a chance. Looking right into
the sun, Backen lost it, and in the process, both baserunners had
scored to make it 3-3.
Finally in the 11 th, the Ducks loaded the bases on two walks
and another muffed fly ball by Backen. Mike Black delivered a
single into right center for the game-winning hit.
Women ousted
in tournament
The Oregon women's softball
team, still striving to become a
squad deserving of the chance
of competing at the national
tournament, apparently hasn't
reached that goal yet. The
Ducks won two games and lost
two games at the Reno Invita
tional and were eliminated from
the tournament before the final
day (Saturday).
Oregon defeated Northern
Arizona on Thursday 4-1 behind
the pitching of Rhonda Revelle
and Lori Sweet. But the Ducks
played three games Friday, and
the second loss, 6-3 to Utah,
forced them out of the double
elimination tournament.
Earlier during the day,
Oregon lost to Fresno State 9-4
and beat Portland State 10-3.
The Ducks have a record of 9-9
on the season.
“People just have to be pa
tient with us,’’ says Oregon
coach Nancy Plantz. "We're a
young team and need more
game experience. I still think
we re going to peak at the Cal
tournament (the Cal-Berkeley
Invitational this weekend).”
Oregon faces Oregon State
Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Ducks’
first home game of the year. The
contest is the second between
the two schools this season
OSU won the first 4-0 in Corval
lis one week ago.
Ducks take to the water;
top Huskies in downpour
Under miserable conditions
and before a miniscule crowd,
Oregon's women’s track and
field team continued to roll with
a 75-52 dual meet win Saturday
over Washington at Husky
Stadium
The atmosphere in Seattle
was a shocking switch from the
sun-drenched skies and mass
intensity that surrounded the
UCLA meet the weekend
before. Rain doused the field,
and all but 200 Washington
track fans were smart enough to
stay home. It had all the ear
marks of a letdown for the
Ducks, whose 66-61 win over
the Bruins puts them in the
prime spot for the post-season
number-one dual ranking.
Oregon’s Patty Kearney was
the first to serve notice that the
Ducks had no intentions of go
ing belly up. Kearney, who
started the season at 166-11,
tossed the javelin 180-7. Her
mark was two feet better than
the school record and national
season best she set against
UCLA and also qualified her for
the Olympic trials.
Lexie Miller, who earlier had
the makings of a bad day when
she and Grace Bakari dropped
the final exchange in the 400
relay, came back to win the long
jump with a personal best of
19-4, and finished second to
teammate Robin Pate in the 100
hurdles. Pate, a freshman from
Mountain Home, Ind., also won
the 400 hurdles and has
become the Ducks’ premier
hurdler, winning five of six races
in Oregon’s three duals
Bakari also recovered from
the baton exchange to win the
400 in 54.6 and the 200 with a
24.73 mark.
Carrie Albano heaved the
shot 46-9 on her last attempt to
beat high school rival Jackie
Henry (45-7). Other winners for
the Ducks were Leann Warren
in the 800 (2:07.43) and Lisha
Lass in the discus (147-0).
Charles Porter
the young people s candidate
Charles Porter is running for U.S. Senate.
He has something important to say.
Rally April 23rd, 7:30 p.m., Democratic
Headquarters, 857 Willamette
Come & bring a friend!
Paid by Charles Porter for US Senate, 96 E. Broadway, Eugene, 97401.
Applications are now available for the position of1980-81
Oregon Daily Emerald
EDITOR
Applicants should have knowledge of newspaper
journalism and of the University of Oregon. Term of
office is June 3, 1980 through June 1, 1981. Monthly
salary of $500 begins May 1, 1980. Editor must be
enrolled for at least 6 credits during three of four
terms while in office. Position requires work Sunday
through Friday and a minimum of 35-40 hours per
week.
Applications are available in the Oregon Daily Emerald offices and must be returned to the ODE Board of
Directors, 300 EMU, P.O. Box 3159 Eugene, OR 97403 before 5 p.m. April 23rd. The Emerald is an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that operates under the team management concept. Women,
minorities and the handicapped are encouraged to apply.
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