EUGENE -- Slated as a pitchers' duel, Friday's matchup between the No. 1 Oregon Ducks and Drake in the second round of the NCAA softball regional lived up to its billing.
Two 20-game winners in Megan Kleist and Nicole Newman, who each compiled sub-one earned run averages facing off in a game between two teams that rank in the top three in team ERA? Few games have presented such intriguing pitching matchups.
But in what's become a similar theme this season, Kleist was just better.
She came within one out of throwing a perfect game but closed out Drake 5-0 in complete-game shutout fashion in the Eugene Regional at Jane Sanders Stadium.