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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Volunteers mark Jacksonville's historic graves with 350-plus flags Stray bullet from drive-by nearly hits sleeping White City resident Since You Asked: Medford airport and city both dry places Jackson County public meetings May 25-29, 2015 Talent amateur astronomer captures the heavens with high-tech cameras Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Stray bullet from drive-by nearly hits sleeping White City resident Emergency services, May 24 Emergency services, May 23 Jury will consider death penalty in double-murder case Emergency services Politics and Elections Case, Salmon leading in Central Point School Board race Lundberg, Mannenbach leading Eagle Point races Jackson County district election turnout under 17 percent Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Education Departing Ashland High principal Zundel looks to next challenge Jacksonville Elementary students on stage at Britt Case, Salmon leading in Central Point School Board race Lundberg, Mannenbach leading Eagle Point races Ashland High's Michelle Zundel heading to Medford district Environment OR-7, mate may be adding to their pack Rogue jet boat tour company eyes TouVelle for permanent home Why is Bear Creek so muddy? Blame Emigrant silt and winter storm Mt. Ashland Ski Area proposes summer adventure center Jackson County declares drought disaster State News In the Oregon Legislature: Impeachment, kicker rebate, gun control Bill would cancel 'kicker,' use money for budget reserves, education Oregon Senate passes bill keeping domestic abusers from having guns State investigates spray crew exposure to herbicide Corvallis-based Bravo company returns home from Afghanistan Nation - World Uh oh .... 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Think again Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center Lifestyle Latest stories Mr. Campbell and fun with engineering Make herbs part of your plant world Tips for upping your age IQ Adopt a Pet Columnist for a Day: It's all about the thighs Food Community blog: Roasting rhubarb riffs on beet-goat cheese salad Page H. 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Graham Brown reflects on career Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum at The Mountain House Community Events Memorial Day celebrates veterans Third Friday: 'Into the Woods' is a must-see 5 things to see at Art in Bloom Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Movies Interview: ‘Good Kill’ offers blistering look at ‘battlefields and blackjack’ of drone warfare Review: ‘Tomorrowland’ feels like another Disneyland staple — Dopey Movie review: Disney takes us to ‘Tomorrowland’ Dwayne Johnson rocks in a new way in ‘San Andreas’ Movie review: Cast keeps laughs coming in ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ Dining Upscale pub fare at The Point Wine by the keg, growler, box and ammo can 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe Cool down with a cold one (or two, or three) Nguyen Street Food Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Stray bullet from drive-by nearly hits sleeping White City resident ... Talent amateur astronomer captures the heavens with high-tech cameras ... Our View: Don't siphon off prison savings just yet ... Stray bullet from drive-by nearly hits sleeping White City resident ... Talent amateur astronomer captures the heavens with high-tech cameras ... Our View: Don't siphon off prison savings just yet ... COLLEGE SOFTBALL Mercado helps spark Ducks in Supers Comment By Oregon Sports Information MailTribune.com By Oregon Sports Information Posted May. 23, 2015 at 2:00 AM By Oregon Sports Information Posted May. 23, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News EUGENE — Under different circumstances, Danica Mercado might have been rooting on her Oregon softball teammates from the bench Friday when the Ducks opened Super Regional play against North Carolina State at Howe Field. A week earlier in Regionals, UO coach Mike White used a three-player rotation at second base and right field that included Mercado, Alyssa Gillespie and Lauren Lindvall. The Ducks played three games, and White used three different combinations, with each player beginning one game on the bench. Depending on what his gut told him — his gut being the decision-maker regarding such things, he said — White might have filled out Friday's lineup card with Lindvall at second base, Gillespie in right and Mercado in reserve. But with Lindvall out due to a concussion suffered in practice, Mercado was assured a starting spot. And did she ever make the most of it. Mercado drove in two runs from the No. 8 spot in the lineup and also provided the biggest defensive highlight from a game full of them, sparking the Ducks to a 6-1 victory and leaving them one game away from their third Women's College World Series appearance in four years. Oregon will have two chances to beat the Wolfpack and win the series today, with first pitch set for noon, to be followed by a decisive third game should North Carolina State win. "We're deep," White said, in a nod to Mercado's contributions. "And thank goodness we are." Mercado singled and was stranded at third in the third inning Friday. She was hit by a pitch with two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth, spurring Oregon's four-run rally in the inning, and she drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Mercado also helped squelch the Wolfpack's best rally. With two on and one out in the fourth, Maggie Hawkins drove a shot up the middle that Mercado dove to field. She then flipped the ball directly from her glove to shortstop Nikkie Udria at second base for the second out of the inning. Cheridan Hawkins struck out the next hitter to end the inning, one of a season-high-tying 14 strikeouts as the UO ace overcame a leadoff home run to whitewash the Wolfpack the rest of the way. Mercado missed all of last season with a leg injury, and seemed determined to put that well behind her at the outset of this spring. She hit above .400 for most of February, and was still at .382 on March 25. But she had hit just .267 since, while Lindvall hit .302 in the same time frame. That's not a huge difference, but it contributed to the three-player rotation the Ducks have used recently at second base and right field. "I know that Lauren's a great second baseman, and when she's in there I want her to be successful," Mercado said. "And she's my No. 1 fan when I'm playing second base. … Basically, if I'm not hitting and she is, why wouldn't she play? We want to win." None of the Ducks hit much to open Friday's game; Mercado's single was their only hit the first time through the order. But the UO hitters worked four full counts the first time around against North Carolina State starter Emily Weiman. Seeing all those pitches paid off the next time through. A walk and two singles loaded the bases to open the fourth. Two quick outs later, it appeared the Ducks might squander the chance — until Mercado was hit to tie the score, 1-1. Gillespie then put a ball in play to force an error that brought two runs across, and Udria capped the rally with an RBI single. "I thought we battled up there," White said. "We try to wear the pitcher down a little bit, and I thought that's what we did." Hawkins, on the other hand, got better as the game wore on. She settled down nicely after a homer by Renada Davis on the second pitch of the game, before running into trouble with two one-out walks in the fourth. White visited the mound for a terse meeting, and Mercado followed with her defensive gem to help end the threat. The Ducks then rallied into the lead, and Hawkins didn't allow a baserunner over the final three innings. "It was definitely nice to get those runs, and then just try to get one out at a time from there," she said. By Oregon Sports Information MailTribune.com By Oregon Sports Information Posted May. 23, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Fantasy Breakdown of Top Quarterbacks May. 24, 2015 at 2:51 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Patriots' Stars May. 22, 2015 at 6:05 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Eagles Stars May. 18, 2015 at 12:35 am Early Fantasy Football Rankings May. 17, 2015 at 4:22 am Fantasy Football Stars Likely to Disappoint May. 15, 2015 at 2:02 am Breaking Down Top 25 Fantasy QBs May. 13, 2015 at 7:00 am Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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