Oregon Ducks infielder Stefini Ma'ake (13) at bat during a game against Michigan Wolverines at Jane Sanders Stadium Friday, April 4. Ma'ake's third-inning RBI-single scored outfielder Kai Luschar, helping push the Ducks to a 3-2 win over Liberty. Staff photographer: Jaime Valdez

Lightning might not strike twice, but Dezianna Patmon does.

Oregon softball’s senior utility player has two hits in her last two games, providing a walk-off base knock in each. First it was a three-run shot to push the Ducks past Stanford and into the Super Regional round of the 2025 NCAA softball championship. On Friday, May 23, Patmon’s eighth-inning RBI-single gave the Ducks a 3-2 win over Liberty at Jane Sanders Stadium.

While Patmon’s single wasn’t as extravagant as the home run against Stanford — or as weighty, with the Ducks facing elimination against the Cardinal — the game one win puts Oregon just one more from a trip to the Women’s College World Series.

For Patmon and the rest of the Ducks, that fact reigns supreme.

“It’s always important,” Patmon said. “Every win is important, especially in the postseason. We’re just trying to play together as long as we can, so I’m trying to just do my job and keep us in it.”

Taking the series-opener was no sure thing. Sure, Oregon finished the regular season as a top-5 team in the nation. But Liberty showed up to Eugene just a week removed from becoming the first team ever to eliminate the nation’s No. 1-seed, Texas A&M, in it’s own regional since seeding began in 2005.

The Flames out-hit Oregon, 8-7, but Ducks head coach Melyssa Lombardi’s squad got it done.

“We don’t always exactly know how we’re going to win or what the game is going to look like,” Lombardi said. “But we know that we’re going to find a way.”

The Ducks struck first, putting up two runs in the third inning.

Nine-hole hitter and right fielder Ayanna Shaw got aboard after Liberty shortstop JaMaya Byrum bobbled the ball for an error. A triple off the bat of left fielder Kai Luschar — the senior’s first extra-base hit since hitting a double against Florida State on March 9 — brought Shaw home for one run, before first baseman Stefini Ma’ake drove in Luschar for the second.

The two-run inning was all Oregon would muster in regulation. The Ducks had the opportunity for a handful more, having a first-inning run and steal to put a runner in scoring position taken off. Liberty challenged the calls, winning both, with the umpire crew determining that Luschar — who was the runner in both instances — left the bag early.

“I haven’t,” Luschar said when asked if she’d ever had a steal call challenged and won by an opponent. “We’re going to look back on film and see what’s going on. But yeah, we’ll fix it tomorrow… I felt like I was on-time.”

The Flames made up some ground thanks to RBI knocks from Paige Doerr and Alexia Carrasquillo in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively. Both of Liberty’s runs were earned off of junior right-handed pitcher Elise Sokolsky, who spun 3.2 innings for Oregon, surrendering five hits and two walks along with the runs.

Along with Sokolsky, Oregon’s starter, the right-handed junior Lyndsey Grein, got roughed up by the Flames, but exited before allowing a run. Grein lasted just two frames, letting up two hits and walking three without netting a strikeout.

Senior left-hander Staci Chambers (3-0) earned the win with 2.1 innings of relief, allowing just one hit. It was Chambers second shutout relief stint, helming the final innings of the regional win over Stanford.

“I’m loving every minute of it,” Chambers said. “I’m trying to get caught up in each singular pitch and trying to win every pitch. It’s a joy when you compete that way. I love playing with these girls and want to keep doing it.”

Game two of the series is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 24.