Oregon State
California
Cal's Fourth-Inning Grand Slam Downs OSU, 4-0
March 25, 2016 | Softball
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The 24th-ranked Oregon State softball fell to the California Golden Bears, 4-0, in its home opener and the first game of a three-game set on Thursday from the OSU Softball Complex.
The Bears' (12-11-1, 1-1-1 Pac-12) Annie Aldrete slugged a grand slam in the top of the fourth inning that proved to be the difference, as neither team went on to score for the remainder of the game. Oregon State (20-8-1, 0-4 Pac-12) tallied seven hits for the game, but was unable to bring any runs across, leaving eight runners on base on Thursday.
“We're just not getting the timely hits,” Oregon State head coach Laura Berg. “Two out of three games against Utah we left 11 runners on, and we left eight on today. We are just not getting the timely hit. We're just not tracking the ball and aren't playing like the same hitting team from the beginning of the season.”
Offensively, Oregon State was led by sophomore left fielder Lovie Lopez, who went 3-for-4 with her Pac-12 leading 10th double of the season. Sophomore shortstop McKenna Arriola reached base three times on 2-for-3 hitting and a HBP.
Redshirt junior designated player Natalie Hampton picked up her seventh double of the season. Redshirt junior third baseman Christie Langlois accounted for the Beavers' remaining hit, while each of senior second baseman Mikela Manewa and freshman right fielder Shelby Weeks reached once on respective walks.
Freshman right-hander Meehra Nelson (11-4) was charged with the loss after allowing the Golden Bears four runs on the grand slam, along with five more hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched. Senior righty Bev Miller kept Cal off the board in 2.2 innings of relief, allowing three hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts.
Cal starter Nisa Ontiveros did not factor into the decision in her 2.2-inning start, but held the Beavers to two hits with seven strikeouts. Katie Sutherland-Finch allowed three hits and a walk with a strikeout in 0.2 innings pitched before giving way to winning pitcher Kourtney Shaw (5-2). Shaw allowed two hits and a walk over the final 3.2 innings to earn the win by pitching most effectively in relief.
Cal's grand slam accounted for each of the early go-ahead runs, with the four-spot coming in the top of the fourth inning. The Bears' Aldrete capitalized on a one-out, bases-loaded situation, sparked by singles by Kylie Reed and Jazmyn Jackson, as well a walk by Kobie Pettis.
The Beavers' top opportunity to produce runs came in the home half of the fourth inning, in which the Beavers loaded the bases with one out. Hampton led off the frame with a double, and Langlois followed with a single to put runners on the corners with none out. One out later, Weeks walked to load the bases, but the Beavers grounded into a double play and stranded each runner.
Following the bottom of the fourth inning, Oregon State was only able to manage two more hits, as Cal's grand slam remained the difference throughout in the 4-0 ballgame.
Oregon State and Cal return to the OSU Softball Complex at 3 p.m. PT on Friday, and wrap up the series on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PT. Each game on Friday and Saturday will be televised on Pac-12 Oregon and Bay Area, with Ann Schatz and Tammy Blackburn providing the live commentary.
For more information on the Oregon State softball team, follow the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/OregonStateSB, by Facebook at Facebook.com/OregonStateSB or on Instagram at Instagram.com/OregonStateSB.
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