The University at Albany softball team went across the country and hung tough with the best team in the land on Thursday.

All the Great Danes couldn't do was find a way to get a run, which is a problem most squads have encountered when facing Miranda Elish. The top-ranked Ducks won the opening game of the NCAA regional, 4-0, with the sophomore Elish getting 14 strikeouts (two off her career best) across seven innings, surrendering four hits.

Playing at its home field (Jane Sanders Stadium; Eugene) Oregon scored in the third inning after a leadoff single was capitalized upon with a stolen base and a DJ Sanders RBI single.

Elish, who had eight strikeouts through four innings, received more than enough wiggle room after Oregon made it 2-0 in the fifth on a wild pitch — followed quickly by a two-run pinch hit home run by Lauren Burke.

Albany actually had the game's first hit, a leadoff single from Chelsea Henige in the second. That opportunity was ruined by a strikeout and double play.

Katie Falotico added a single in the fourth but the Danes again couldn't get a runner past first base.

McKenzie Bump singled in the sixth with two outs, while Sarah Petzold tacked on the final hit in Albany's last at-bat.

The Danes (32-15) will play BYU (35-21) on Friday at 8:30 p.m. in an elimination game. Drake (44-10) defeated BYU, 3-2, in eight innings.

By defeating the two-time defending America East champions, Oregon (48-7) improved to 25-0 under head coach Mike White in NCAA regional games.

Albany is trying to advance to its first regional final since 2007. That will require two Friday evening wins.