Ariel Carlson's 2 fifth-inning homers launches Oregon Ducks into the NCAA Super Regionals
Ariel Carlson gave Oregon a comfortable lead with a two-run home run early in the fifth inning.
When she got a second at-bat that same inning, the senior outfielder from Eugene ended the game with one more big swing.
Carlson’s walk-off grand slam gave the Ducks a 14-4 run-rule victory against host Arkansas in the NCAA Softball Tournament’s Fayetteville Regional final Sunday afternoon at Bogle Stadium.
Carlson finished 3-for-4, including those two fifth-inning homers, a career-high seven RBI and three runs scored.
Oregon advances to its 10th Super Regional appearance, its first since 2018 and first under coach Melyssa Lombardi.
They’ll play at No. 6 Oklahoma State in a best-of-three series beginning with Game 1 at 6 p.m. Thursday.
It had been an entertaining back-and-forth game between the Ducks and Razorbacks, with Oregon up 5-4 heading into the fifth.
But after Terra McGowan hit a lead-off single, Carlson gave the Ducks some breathing room with a homer to left field to put Oregon up 7-4.
It was just the start of what would become a nine-run inning.
Paige Sinicki drove in a pair with a bases-loaded double and McGowan knocked in a run with her second single of the inning as the lead grew to 10-4.
Then came Carlson, who entered the batter's box with the bases loaded and ripped the second pitch she saw from Arkansas reliever Hannah Camenzind onto the berm behind the fence in left field.
KK Humphreys also hit a three-run homer for Oregon as part of a four-run first inning that started with the Ducks down 1-0.
Arkansas tied the score in the third on a three-run homer by Hannah Gammill.
Oregon went back up 5-4 in the fourth on an RBI single by Kai Luschar.
McGowan also went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI.
The Ducks opened the tournament with a 5-4 win against Notre Dame on Friday and then beat Arkansas 10-4 Saturday. The Razorbacks earned their way back into the final of the double-elimination tournament with a 5-0 win against the Fighting Irish Saturday night, their second shutout victory of the weekend.
They had no such luck against Oregon, which outscored Arkansas 24-8 in two games and had 26 combined hits.
Fayetteville Regional
Friday's results
Game 1: Oregon d. Notre Dame, 5-4
Game 2: Arkansas d. Harvard, 11-0 (5 innings)
Saturday's results
Game 3: Oregon d. Arkansas, 10-4
Game 4: Notre Dame d. Harvard, 5-2
Game 5: Arkansas d. Notre Dame, 5-0
Sunday's results
Game 6: Oregon d, Arkansas, 14-4 (5 innings)
Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com. For more sports coverage, visit registerguard.com. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to get unlimited access and support local journalism.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: 2023 Women's College World Series: Oregon Ducks top Arkansas
