Oregon State
Arizona St
No. 12 OSU Softball Upsets No. 3 Arizona State at Kia Klassic
March 18, 2000 | Softball
March 18, 2000
FULLERTON, Calif. - - Tarrah Beyster and Shelly Prochaska came up big for No. 12 Oregon State, as the Beavers (22-5-1) knocked No. 3 Arizona State out of the Kia Klassic softball tournament with a 3-2 extra-inning victory on Saturday afternoon. The Beavers will continue play in the semifinals Sunday at 9 a.m., most likely against the top-ranked University of Washington.
With the game tied at one run apiece in the top of the eighth inning and OSU's Shawna Feldt on third, freshman Shelly Prochaska delivered her first homerun of the year to centerfield to put the Beavers ahead 3-1.
"Shelly came through with a big homerun," said OSU coach Kirk Walker. "She's been hitting the ball well all week. It was just a matter of time until she hit her first homerun. It just happened to come at a great time."
OSU's lead was anything but safe though, as ASU nearly tied the game again in the bottom of the eighth. With two out and shortstop Kara Brun on second, ASU's Missy Hixon singled to center and took second on an error by OSU centerfielder Brooke Rutschman. The error also allowed Brun to take third.
Just when it looked as though OSU might be in trouble, Rutschman made up for her previous error. With ASU runners on second and third, Nichole Thompson drove a single to center to score Brun from third and make the score 3-2. However, Rutschman zipped a throw to catcher Shelly Prochaska at home plate just in time to tag out Hixon as she tried to score the tying run from second.
The Beavers got a clutch play earlier in the game to set up the extra-inning drama from senior pitcher Tarrah Beyster. Trailing ASU 1-0 heading into the top of the sixth, Beyster crushed her team-leading eighth homerun to straightaway centerfield to tie the game at one apiece. Neither team could score in the seventh, and the game went to extra-innings. The game marked the second extra-inning win for OSU in the tournament thus far, and was the Beavers' fourth win in a row overall.
Beyster pitched her 12th complete game of the year, and allowed just four hits on the afternoon to improve her record to 13-5 on the year.
"Tarrah pitched a great game," said Walker. "She really held ASU's hitters down. She came through and responded well with a big homerun after ASU scored."
"It was a great team win, and we're looking forward to tomorrow," Walker said.
Game Results
Oregon State 000 001 02 - 3 7 2
Arizona State 000 010 01 - 2 4 1
Beyster and Prochaska. Voak and Kahler. WP- Beyster (13-5). LP- Voak (19-2). 2B- Adams (OSU). HR- Prochaska (OSU), Beyster (OSU)
