Bobbles prove costly in split.

Byline: Rob Moseley The Register-Guard

The Oregon softball team can enter the final week of the regular season confident in its ability to challenge some of the best teams in the country, though the Ducks might have made a bigger statement this weekend but for their own mistakes.

The 12th-ranked Ducks split a doubleheader with No. 9 Missouri on Saturday, winning 8-3 before falling 7-3 to drop two of three overall to the Tigers in the series. One day after defensive lapses cost Oregon the opener, it was a similar story in the second game Saturday at Howe Field.

The Tigers used a five-run second inning, of which just two runs were earned, to take a lead they never surrendered. Of Missouri's 15 runs over three games, eight were unearned.

"We made some plays at big times, but we also made some boneheaded plays," UO coach Mike White said. "We've got to shore it up."

Oregon wraps up its regular season with a three-game series against No. 17 UCLA at Howe Field beginning Thursday.

Ducks pitcher Jessica Moore got her 25th victory in the opener Saturday to tie the UO single-season record. But she misplayed two ground balls during the five-run second inning in the second game, and surrendered insurance runs for the Tigers in the sixth and seventh innings.

Moore also committed an error on a comebacker in Friday's 5-4 loss.

"Usually Jess is a great fielder," White said. "She just wasn't quite there this weekend for some reason."

Kelsey Chambers hit a two-run homer - the 35th of her career, tied for second in UO history - in the fourth inning of the second game and scored again in the sixth. But the Ducks stranded two runners in the latter frame and left the bases loaded in the seventh, with Chambers taking a called third strike to end the game.

Missouri ace Chelsea Thomas was in the circle for both Missouri victories over the Ducks.

Oregon had more success in the opener Saturday, with Kaylan Howard, Sam Pappas and Alexa Peterson all hitting home runs to left-center field. The Ducks led 7-1 after four, when Moore hit three batters and walked another to prompt a pitching change.

"Obviously she can throw stuff to beat anybody, but it's just not consistent right now," White said. "That's something we've got to work on."

Karissa Hovinga came on to retire the next nine hitters in order, closing out Oregon's third victory this season over a top-10 team.

"She's improving week to week, getting a little more confidence," White said. "Who knows, we may need her down the stretch."

Also Saturday

No. 1 California 4, No. 23 Oregon State 2: Both teams managed just five hits but the Golden Bears hit two home runs with theirs to beat the host Beavers and win their seventh straight series.

Cal starter Valerie Arioto (28-1) hit a solo home run in the first inning, then threw two scoreless innings. Julie Henderson got the win for allowing three hits and two unearned runs in the next five innings after taking over for Arioto. Breana Kostreba also hit a solo home run for Cal (47-3, 18-2 Pac-12).

Lea Cavestany was 2-for-3 for OSU (33-18, 8-11). Marina Demore took the loss for OSU after allowing all four runs in her six innings, and walking seven.