Oregon Ducks Lose To UCLA In Heartbreaker, Walk-Off Home Run: Face Ole Miss Elimination Game

The No. 16 nationally ranked Oregon Ducks softball team (53-9) took a nail-biting 4-2 loss in the Women's College World Series (WCWS) against the No. 9 ranked UCLA Bruins at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

After two scoreless innings to open the game, Oregon's Kedre Luschar punched in Oregon's first run of the game with a right side RBI and Kaylynn Jones dashing to home base to finish the play. UCLA responded to the Ducks with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, as the Ducks continued to trail till the top of the seventh inning.

Oregon players are announced before a softball game between UCLA and Oregon at the Women’s College World Series at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, May 29, 2025. | NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With the lead in sight, Paige Sinicki hits a double to advance to second base. After Sinicki advanced to third base during a different batter, Emma Cox gets a fielder's choice to third base, getting herself to first and Sinicki to a home base attempt. Sinicki makes the run, but is tapped out. However, Oregon challenges for obstruction. The call on the field is out at home. In favor of Oregon, the obstruction challenge is upheld and Sinicki scores to tie the game 2-2.

The Bruins gets the last laugh with Jessica Clemmons hitting a home run right down the middle in the bottom of the seventh, sealing the Ducks' fate with a final score of 4-2.

Oregon will face Ole Miss in an elimination game Friday night at 6:30 PM PT on ESPN.

Oregon coach Melyssa Lombardi celebrates as the Ducks widen the score in the fifth inning against Stanford. | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Prior to their entrance to the WCWS, the Ducks beat down the Liberty Flames 13-1 for the final game of a three game sweep during the Eugene Super Regionals at Jane Sanders Stadium in Eugene. This will be the seventh WCWS appearance for Oregon and the first helmed by coach Melyssa Lombardi.

Now in the losers' bracket, the Ducks take on Ole Miss in an elimination game at 6:30pm on Friday.

Check below for a summary of the game. The latest highlights are at the top of the article.

FINAL: DUCKS 2, BRUINS 4

- Jessica Clements hits it right down the middle for a home run. The Bruins get two runs to seal the deal against the Ducks. This is Clements' WCWS debut.

- UCLA's Terry fouled out caught by Oregon's Flannery. Two outs for the Bruins.

- UCLA's Mujica singles and runs to first. Stephens comes in for a pinch runner.

Bottom of the Seventh Inning: Bruins at bat | Ducks 2, Bruins 2

- Jones is grounded to end the top of the inning.

DUCKS 2, BRUINS 2

- Legg pinch runs for Cox on first base.

- Cox reached on a fielders' choice to third base and gets to first base. Sinicki goes for home, but is tapped out. However, Oregon challenges for obstruction. Call on the field is out at home. Obstruction challenge is upheld. Runner is safe. Oregon scores with Sinicki. The game is tied.

- Patman out after trying to advance from first base to second. Sinicki advances to third base.

- Paige Sinicki doubles to get to second base. Ruling on the field is a fair ball but the call is challenged by UCLA. The call is upheld.

Top of the Seventh Inning: Ducks at bat | Ducks 1, Bruins 2

- Woolery is caught stealing and out, ending the inning.

- Sokolsky gets her first strikeout with Ramirez swinging.

- Elise Sokolsky is brought in to relieve Grein. UCLA's Curo hits a pinch hit for an advance to first. Pinedo on second, Woolery on third.

- UCLA's Grant is walked, with Pinedo as a pinch runner on first base. Woolery advances to second base.

- UCLA's Woolery singled to left field and goes to first base.

Bottom of the Sixth Inning: Bruins at bat | Ducks 1, Bruins 2

- Kedre Luschar is grounded out, McCoy is also struck out swinging, giving Terry her sixth strike out of the game. Oregon is 3-20 overall in batting with 1-7 on batting with two outs.

- UCLA's Terry earns her fifth strikeout of the night with Kai Luschar. It's only the fourth time this season Luschar has struck out during a game.

Top of the Sixth Inning: Ducks at bat | Ducks 1, Bruins 2

- Ducks have a 4-6 record when trailing into the fifth inning.

- Savannah Pola strikes out, ending the inning for the Bruins with Clements on base. Bruins are 1-6 at batting with runners on base. Grein ends the inning with four hits, two strikeouts, and one walk with 20 batters faced so far.

- Jessica Clements doubles to left center for UCLA, heading to second base.

Bottom of the Fifth Inning: Bruins at bat | Ducks 1, Bruins 2

- Jones caught stealing second base and hit out as the inning concludes.

- Jones singled through left side and gets on first, had time to run to second but stayed.

- Ma'ake grounds out to second for the Ducks.

Top of the Fifth Inning: Ducks at bat | Ducks 1, Bruins 2

DUCKS 1, BRUINS 2

- UCLA's Alexis Ramirez hits a home run, as her and Hatch both make runs for the Bruins to put UCLA in the lead.

- Bruins are 0-4 at batting with runners on as Hatch advances to second base.

- Jordan Woolery gets a single on Grein with Lauren Hatch running to first for Woolery.

Bottom of the Fourth Inning: Bruins at bat | Ducks 1, Bruins 0

- Kaniya Bragg of UCLA get's a good grab on a short hit from Emma Cox. Sinicki and Patmon ground out.

Top of the Fourth Inning: Ducks at bat | Ducks 1, Bruins 0

- Kedre Luschar smashes the Bruins' third-inning dugout party with a long-ball catch to seal the inning. Grein ends the third with one strikeout after facing 11 batters.

Bottom of the Third Inning: Bruins at bat | Ducks 1, Bruins 0

- Oregon gets their second timing infraction, this time against batter McCoy.

DUCKS 1, BRUINS 0

- Kedre Luschar delivers Oregon's first run of the night with a single. Kaylynn Jones runs it in from third base after her own single and two advancements.

Top of the Third Inning: Ducks at bat | Ducks 0, Bruins 0

- Grein gets her first strikeout of the night as the Ducks head to the top of the third. UCLA is the only team with a hit on the board, with one.

Bottom of the Second Inning: Bruins at bat | Ducks 0, Bruins 0

- Pitcher Kaitlyn Terry for UCLA marks her fourth strikeout of the game as Dez Patmon and Stefini Ma’ake both strike out swinging. Ducks with 3 players this game batting with two outs on the board.

Top of the Second Inning: Ducks at bat | Ducks 0, Bruins 0

- UCLA ends the inning with two runners at bases during batting, but isn't able to get any points on the board.

- Coaches agree to a no-pitch, no-hit if the lights continue to fail at Devon Park. The delay was 4-minutes long.

- The lights at Devon Park turn off once again, with both head coaches convening to determine how to go forward. The Duck players are hyping up their fans during the delay.

- The lights at Devon Park turn off at the beginning of the bottom of the first, assumed by announcers to be on a timer to turn off at 10pm EST.

- Lyndsey Grein in at pitcher for the Ducks.

Bottom of the First Inning: Bruins at bat | Ducks 0, Bruins 0

- The Ducks are not able to get anything moving early, with both Kai Luschar and Rylee McCoy striking out.

Top of the First Inning: Ducks at bat | Ducks 0, Bruins 0

Oregon's lineup:

LF Kai Luschar

CF Kedre Luschar

DP Rylee McCoy

SS Paige Sinicki

RF Dez Patmon

C Emma Cox

1B Stefini Ma’ake

2B Kaylynn Jones

3B Katie Flannery

P Lyndsey Grein

UPDATE: According to Oregon Softball's "X" account, a weather delay in the Oklahoma City area has pushed back the game start time to 7:45pm PST.

🚨UPDATE🚨

A weather system that passed through Oklahoma City this afternoon has delayed the evening session of the opening day of the #WCWS2025. Ole Miss-Texas Tech will start at 5:15 PM PT, with Oregon-UCLA to follow at approximately 7:45 PM PT (ESPN2).#GoDucks | #Version7
— Oregon Softball (@OregonSB) May 29, 2025

PREVIEW

In the Big Ten, the Ducks take the winning record against the Bruins 2-1, but the Bruins hold the alltime record between the teams at 97-33. The Bruins and the Ducks met once in the WCWS in 2015, with the Bruins clinching the win 7-1.

Players to look for in this match-up include redshirt senior outfielder Kai Luschar, who holds the Oregon program record for steals in a game (4), in a season (59), and in a college career (107).

On the mound, junior pitcher Lyndsey Grein shined against the Flames in a final series game rebound. Grein marked her first complete game since March, punching in a three-hitter and striking out ten.

Senior infielder Paige Sinicki also shined against Liberty, with four home runs in the final game of the Super Regional. She's an All-Big Ten First Team selection and won the 2024 Gold Glove for her efforts with the Ducks.

How to Watch:

No. 5 Oregon will take on No. 9 UCLA on Thursday, May 29. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. PT and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

MORE: New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu Out Duels Caitlin Clark, Makes Franchise History

MORE: Washington Commanders' Josh Conerly Jr. Changing Positions? Laremy Tunsil Trade Impact

MORE: Longest College Football Home Winning Streaks: Georgia, Washington, Oregon Ducks

The Ducks are fresh off an electric Super Regional against Liberty. After the Flames knocked out No. 1 Texas A&M in College Station, they came to Eugene with all the momentum. Game one was a back-and-forth battle, but senior Dez Patmon came through in extra innings, delivering the walk-off hit in the eighth to win the game. Oregon then went into game two firing on all cylinders, running away with a 13-1 win, clinching their spot in the WCWS.