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Controversial call takes run off board for Oregon in Super Regional vs. Liberty

FaceProfileby: Thomas Goldkamp05/24/25
Oregon Playoffs
Sep 9, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; The Oregon Ducks mascot on the sidelines during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon appeared all set to take an early lead against Liberty in the first game of the Eugene Super Regional. The umpires had other ideas.

On a controversial ruling, officials called Kai Luschar out for leaving third base early on an attempt to reach home. She scored easily on the play, but the umpires went to the monitor at the behest of the Liberty staff.

And they ruled that Luschar did, in fact, leave early. It was difficult to see on a replay, which you can view below.

The ESPNU broadcast crew suggested that perhaps the small hop on the base from Luschar was enough to trigger the call. They noted, though, that Luschar appeared to firmly re-establish herself on the bag before the throw and was still on the bag when the ball left the pitcher’s hand.

Certainly that’s how it appeared. In any case, it was a tough blow for the Ducks.

Moments later it would get worse. Shortstop Paige Sinicki stepped to the plate and blasted a shot to left field. It went very near the wall, if not slightly over, before left fielder Paige Doerr reached up and snagged it for the final out of the inning.

Oregon would eventually recover from the gut punch and deliver the first blow of the game in the bottom of the third inning. The Ducks managed to scratch across multiple runs.

The rally started after right fielder Ayanna Shaw reached on an error at shortstop. Moments later, Luschar tripled to right center field to score her.

The rally continued after a foul-out for the second out of the inning. First baseman Stefini Ma’ake drove home Luschar by singling to left field, making it 2-0 Oregon. The rally fizzled there, but the Ducks are now ahead in the contest going to the fourth inning at the time of this writing.