Oregon knocked off Drake to advance to the Super Regionals for the ninth straight year.

Nothing came easy for the top-ranked Ducks on Saturday afternoon in the Eugene Regional Final.

The Duck offense sputtered early, and unlike the previous two days, Miranda Elish was forced to work her way through high intensity at-bats in seemingly every inning.

Oregon finally broke through in the fifth with a trio of runs, and despite the struggles, Elish kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard for the third straight day, as Oregon punched its Super Regional ticket for the ninth straight year with a 3-0 win on Saturday at Jane Sanders Stadium.

“We had a tough time," Oregon coach Mike White said. "They battled and really made Miranda work. I think she can testify to that."

The Ducks (50-7) are now an impressive 27-0 in regional games under Mike White. They will play the winner of the Lexington Regional next weekend in a three-game series.

This marks the first time Oregon has held the opposition scoreless for the entirety of a regional. In 2016, they allowed one run in three days. For the weekend, Elish and Megan Kleist combined to pitch 21 innings with just 10 hits, 13 total base runners and an astounding 36 strikeouts.

“Hearing that they didn’t let up a run is so cool to me," Oregon catcher Gwen Svekis said. "I just think that’s the most awesome statistic to hear. They’re some tough cookies in the circle."

Drake (45-12) ace Nicole Newman proved why she’s the owner of the nation’s second-lowest earned run average until the fifth inning when Alexis Mack and Haley Cruse finally got the Ducks on the scoreboard with a pair of RBI singles to make it 3-0. Mack’s hit brought two around, while Cruse only scored one.

Elish had to channel her best Harry Houdini impression all day on Saturday. Overall, Elish allowed a base runner on in five innings of the day, and every frame from the second through the sixth.

"My team has my back the whole time, so it made it easier to get out of those situations," the right-hander said. "You just have to come up with great pitches, focus on hitting your spots and spinning the ball harder."

In the second and third, Drake placed runners in scoring position with one out, and twice she mustered the answer. In the fourth and fifth runners reached second base with two outs, and again, she put them away. And a pair of swinging strikeouts put away yet another threat in the sixth, as Drake had put runners on first and second with one out.

For the day, Elish finished with 11 strikeouts and just five hits. The seven base runners allowed surpasses the six allowed in the first two days combined.

Meanwhile, Newman had Oregon’s number early for the second straight day. This time the Drake ace had the Ducks off the scoreboard for a little more than four innings before the Oregon offense found its way on the scoreboard. A pair of lead-off singles from Mia Camuso and Lauren Lindvall put two on. A few batters later, now with the bases juiced, Mack came through with a slap single to left.

Cruse added a third run with a single to the same spot one batter later to bring Lilley around from third. Mack also raced around to score, but was ruled out at home, although the fans at Jane Sanders Stadium offered loud pleas to the contrary.

The Ducks failed to capitalize off of a bases loaded situation in the top of the seventh. With three on and no outs, Cruse grounded into a double play, and the next two batters couldn't cut it either.

The schedule for next week's Super Regional is yet to be set. Games will be played at Jane Sanders Stadium, with the series beginning on either Thursday or Friday.

The Lexington Regional has been delayed due to weather and it's possible a winner may not be determined until Monday.