The Ducks Adopt a New Philosophy After Falling Short of Last Year's
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The Emerald Media Group Presents Baseball and Softball Preview | 2017 The Ducks adopt a new philosophy after falling short of last year’s College World Series. PLUMBING • ELECTRICAL OPEN TOOLS • HOUSEWARES 6AM - 8PM PLUMBINGPAINT • HARDWARE• ELECTRICAL WED - SUN TOOLSLAWN • HOUSEWARES& GARDEN 6AM - 3PM PAINT • HARDWARE MON - TUE LAWN & GARDEN OPEN SINCE WALKING 1965 DISTANCE FROM 2825 Willamette St. CAMPUS! Eugene, Oregon 2825541-342-5191 Willamette St. Eugene, Oregon GLUTEN DON’T LET541-342-5191 THE SUN SET FREE ONDON’T YOUR LET THE SUMMER SUN SET PANCAKES! ONDON’TGrab your YOUR glasses LET and get THE readySUMMER for SUN the season. SET ONGrab your YOUR glasses and get readySUMMER for the season. ONGrabDon’t your wait YOUR glassesuntil the and final get inning readySUMMER tofor take the season.the lead on ONGrabDon’t your wait YOUR glassesuntil the and final get inning readySUMMER tofor take the season.the lead on yourDon’t college wait until scoreboard. the final Comeinning join to takeus this the summer! lead on Grabyour collegeyour glasses scoreboard. and get Come ready join for usthe this season. summer! yourDon’t college wait until scoreboard. the final Comeinning join to take us this the summer! lead on yourDon’t college wait until scoreboard. the final Comeinning join to take us this the summer! lead on your college scoreboard. Come join us this summer! The Summer Session uosummer.uoregon.edu The Summer Session uosummer.uoregon.edu Theschedule Summer is available Session uosummer.uoregon.edu schedule is available facebook.com/uosummeruosummer.uoregon.edu Theonlineschedule Summer now. is available Session facebook.com/uosummer Theonline Summer now. Session 541-346-3475uosummer.uoregon.edufacebook.com/uosummer onlineschedule now. is available 541-346-3475facebook.com/uosummer onlineschedule now. is available 541-346-3475facebook.com/uosummer online now. 541-346-3475 2017 SUMMER SESSION JUNE 26–SEPTEMBER 15 541-343-7523 • 782 East Broadway, Eugene 2017 SUMMER SESSION 541-346-3475JUNE 26–SEPTEMBER 15 2017 SUMMER SESSION JUNE 26–SEPTEMBER 15 Corner of Alder & Franklin Blvd. 2017 SUMMER SESSION JUNE 26–SEPTEMBER 15 EO/AA/ADA institution committed to cultural diversity. ADDITIONAL PARKING BEHIND CAFE YUMM! 2017©EO/AA/ADA 2017 University SUMMER institution of Oregon committed SESSION to cultural diversity. JUNE 26–SEPTEMBER 15 (WEEKENDS ONLY LOOK FOR SIGN) Contents ©EO/AA/ADA 2017 University institution of Oregon committed to cultural diversity. EO/AA/ADA© 2017 University institution of Oregon committed to cultural diversity. © 2017 University of Oregon 2 EO/AA/ADA | EMG Magazineinstitution committed to cultural diversity. EMG Magazine | 3 © 2017 University of Oregon 2017 DuckSeason, the Emerald’s annual softball and baseball magazine, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon. Formerly the Oregon Daily Emerald, the news organization was founded in 1900. EMERALD MEDIA GROUP 1222 E. 13TH AVE., #300, EUGENE, OR 97403, 541.346.5511, DAILYEMERALD.COM NEWSROOM EDITOR IN CHIEF: COOPER GREEN PRINT MANAGING EDITOR: BRAEDON KWIECIEN ART DIRECTOR: DANA SPARKS SPORTS EDITOR: KENNY JACOBY ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITORS: JONATHAN HAWTHORNE, JARRID DENNEY WRITERS: SHAWN MEDOW, JACK BUTLER, ZAK LASTER, COLE KUNDICH BUSINESS PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER: CHARLIE WEAVER X317 VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS: KATHY CARBONE X302 ADVERTISING VP OF SALES AND MARKETING: LINDSEY SMITH X303 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES:GREG BUTLER, TAYLOR BRADBURY, CARSON BIERAUGEL, KYLE BESA RUBEN ESTRADA 8-9 15 DESIGN Second-year EMILY HARRIS A new 12-13 KELLY KONDO strategy Heat EMILY HAMREN Former UO 6-7 LAYHA PITTS New Duck recruits Alexis Mack 10-11 moving up ON THE COVER LAUREN LINDVALL LEADS OFF TO STEAL ON 3 friends MARCH 25, 2016. reunited PHOTO TAKEN BY SAMUEL MARSHALL Contents 2 | EMG Magazine EMG Magazine | 3 Find everything you’ll need for this season at any of our campus Duck Store locations! Eugene • Portland • Bend • UODuckStore.com Find everything you’ll need for this season at any of our campus Duck Store locations! Eugene • Portland • Bend • UODuckStore.com fitting in seamlessly with Oregon softball Shawn Medow Alexis Mack runs to first base against the Pacific Tigers on March 11, 2017. (Amanda Shigeoka) 6 | EMG Magazine EMG Magazine | 7 Alexis Mack is really after Mack. The two have fast. She’s fast not just at packed a powerful one-two base running, but at fitting punch in the batter’s box in with Oregon softball for Oregon. fitting in seamlessly since transferring in from “I think that me and Mack South Carolina. work really well together,” with Oregon softball The only transfer on Mercado said. “Me and her the Ducks’ roster, Mack is are like coaches to each making an instant impact. other. We help each other She already established a lot.” herself as the lead-off batter With Oregon’s change in for No. 4-ranked Oregon style from home-run hitting and currently leads the to a small-ball approach, team in hitting with a .509 speed is of the essence for batting average. the Ducks. “It was immediate,” Mack “Mack’s helped us out a said about getting used to lot,” junior Lauren Lindvall her new team. “I can’t really said. “I’m really glad she’s say the same about other here because she’s a light on teams I’ve played on, but it this team — doing the small was immediate. I felt really, ball and just trying to move really welcomed, which runners and get them on, get was awesome.” them over and get them in.” Having played previously Mack played a key role with Ducks Jenna Lilley and in Oregon’s tough test at Miranda Elish, the transition the Missouri Invitational, Find Your Home has been smooth for Mack where the Ducks beat then- as her new teammates No. 24 Missouri twice over embraced her. the weekend tournament. with Bell-Realty! “They push me every day Oregon has begun the season to get better, and I always with 21-straight wins, its best All Units Include Water, Sewer, felt like I was trying to catch start in program history. up and be as good as them,” “I think we’ve been able Garbage, Cable & Internet! Mack said. to expand her game,” White In the leadoff role, Mack said. “She has the speed, but PIPER APARTMENTS ROYAL TERRACE 1866/1870 ONYX has the task of getting on we’ve had to expand her 550 E.15th Ave 625 E.16th Ave Studio’s & 2 bedroom base early to give Oregon’s by giving her a few more 2 & 3 bedrooms 1 & 2 bedrooms townhomes • Patio’s or balconies in most • Patio’s or decks • NearRENTED Hayward Field next batters the chance to options ... she’ll be able to • Secure building • On-site laundry • On-site laundry • Washer & driers in units • Limited parking $30.00/mo • Limited parking $30.00/mo drive her home. With her swing away and work on • Limited parking $30.00/mo quick pace, she gets the types of bunts.” MYRTLEWOOD 1585 FERRY ALLEY HAYS APARTMENTS APARTMENTS 2 bedroom townhomes job done early and often, 460 E. 14th Ave 1437 High St •Washer & driers in unit Mack walks with swagger Newer Complex! 1 & 2 bedroom units •OffRENTED street parking whether by hits or walks. • 2 & 3 bedrooms • Townhome and loft styles as her conveniently named • Patios & Decks • On-site laundry 1591 HIGH/341 “Alexis Mack has made a walk-up song “Return of the • On-site laundry • Off Street parking E.16TH AVE. • Limited parking $30.00/mo 1, 2 and 4 bedroom units. big spark at the top of the Mack” blasts throughout •On-site laundry HESS APARTMENT MARLATT •Off street parking order, especially with [junior] Jane Sanders Stadium. She 1390 Alder APARTMENTS 2 & 3 bedrooms 749-773 E.17th Ave 610 E.14TH AVE Jenna [Lilley] having a few is full of spirit and eager • All have balconies! 1 bedroomRENTED units 1 bedroom unit struggles early on,” head to swing at the first pitch • On-Site laundry • On-site laundry • Hardwood floors • Limited parking $30.00/mo • Limited parking $30.00/mo • On-siteRENTED laundry coach Mike White said. she sees. • Off street parking (1 space) Senior Danica Mercado “I try to bring positive bats second in the order, energy every day,” Mack said. Bell Real Estate 2001 Franklin Blvd., Suite 2 bell-realty.com Eugene, 97403 campus: 541-501-3513 • Main office: 541-686-6188 6 | EMG Magazine EMG Magazine | 7 Infielder Nikki Udria (3) reaches to tag out a Utah Valley player on May 3, 2016. (Samuel Marshall) Get them on, get them over, get them in. That’s Oregon’s new offensive philosophy. After a season in which power hitting created most of the offense, 2017 has become the year of ‘small ball’ for the Oregon Ducks softball team. The new motto means: Get runners on base, bunt or sacrifice to get them to second and third base, and get them to ‘small ball’ score by any means possible. The Ducks led the Pac-12 in home runs a year ago, producing 22 more than second-place Washington. But the departures of a few power hitters and the bitter taste after being stunned by UCLA in offense leads the NCAA Super Regionals led the Ducks to change their strategy. Just two outs separated Oregon and the 2016 College World Series. But UCLA’s Gabrielle Maurice hit a game-tying home run in to bigbig winswins game two of the super regionals, and UCLA went on to win games two and three, erasing Oregon’s shot at a third-straight world series appearance. “I’m going to go back to the drawing board with my coaches and the returning players and I’m going to figure out a way to get Jack Butler better,” Oregon head coach Mike White said after the game.