The hometown girl’s idyllic college career is almost over.
But she hopes to write a few more chapters and enjoy a lot more wild rides before it ends.
This week at Jane Sanders Stadium, No. 20 Oregon softball plays Oregon State in a three-game series that runs Friday through Sunday. Ariel Carlson, one of the nine seniors playing their final regular-season games, is having the best season of her five years as a Duck.
One of the main draws is Eugene native Carlson, who as a young Oregon fan would wait in line outside the gates of the former Howe Field to secure the ideal general admission ticket to watch the Ducks play.
The outfielder has emerged as one of the top players in the Pac-12 because to her unique combination of speed and power. She is one of just four players in the country with 12 or more home runs and 14 or more steals.
With 12 home runs and 45 RBI this season, Carlson is batting.350 and tied for the conference lead. Since 2007, when Ann Marie Topps had 19 home runs and Jenn Salling had 73 RBI, no player from Oregon has finished the season as the conference leader in those categories.
Carlson also has 10 doubles, 14 stolen bases, and a.733 slugging percentage, which ties him for fourth place in the Pac-12.
