Oregon State
Oregon
OSU's Rally Falls Short in 4-3 Setback to Oregon
April 10, 2016 | Softball
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State softball team rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the comeback bid fell just short as the No. 6/7-ranked Oregon Ducks held off the Beavers, 4-3, in front of a record crowd on Saturday at the OSU Softball Complex.
The announced attendance for Saturday's game was 1,012, a new record for the OSU Softball Complex. The previous record was 1,008 in a game against Arizona on May 5, 2007.
Oregon State (24-11-1, 4-7 Pac-12) trailed 4-0 heading to the bottom of the fifth inning, as the Beavers had been stymied up to that point by Oregon (31-6, 9-2 Pac-12) starter Megan Kleist (13-3). Each of the first four batters up in the frame for the Beavers contributed to the scoring, as Natalie Hampton led off with a double and the inning's second batter, Madison Anthony, cut the deficit in half with a two-run home run to left field. The next two batters continued the trend, as Shelby Weeks singled and scored from first on a Mikela Manewa double that cut the lead to 4-3.
Following the three quick runs, Kleist gave way to Geri Ann Glasco, who retired the next three Beavers to end the three-run fifth inning. Oregon State was only able to get a pair of baserunners down the stretch on a Christie Langlois walk and Weeks' second single, as Glasco and Cheridan Hawkins combined for three blank innings down the stretch to preserve Oregon's 4-3 win.
“We were just a little too late to make the adjustment,” Oregon State head coach Laura Berg said. “It's hard to beat a team like Oregon when you wait until the fifth inning to make an adjustment. We have to do that sooner. I love the fight from our team, but we've got to make the adjustment sooner. We're just not getting the timely hits – that's the one key element that's been missing from us this weekend.”
With the result, Oregon clinches the 2016 Civil War Series, presented by McDonald's, Spirit Mountain Casino, Pacific Source Health Plans and your Local Oregon Ford stores. First pitch for the final game of the series is set for 3:05 p.m. PT on Sunday.
Senior righty Bev Miller (10-6) was charged with the loss in her four-inning start despite holding the Ducks to one earned run (four total) on seven hits and one walk with a pair of strikeouts. Right-hander Meehra Nelson was sharp in three innings of relief, limiting Oregon to two walks with seven strikeouts in a trio of scoreless, hitless innings.
“That's just Meehra, she's been doing that all year,” Berg said. “I'm not surprised by her outing today. Bev throws the ground balls and Meehra throws the strikeouts, which is a great combo for us.”
Oregon opened the scoring in the top of the third inning with a three-run home run from Hailey Decker. With two outs in the frame, Koral Costa was the first to reach base on a single. The Beavers looked to be out of the inning on a ground ball, but a Beaver error allowed Glasco to reach and extend the inning. Decker took advantage, giving the Ducks a 3-0 lead with a home run to left.
Oregon added one more run in the top of the fifth inning, the final run for the Ducks before the Beavers' three-run rally in the home half of the same frame. The final two batters of Miller's outing combined for the run, as the Ducks' Alyssa Gillespie singled and accounted for the run scored on a Nikki Udria RBI double. After Udria's at-bat, Miller gave way to Nelson, who blanked Oregon over the final three innings to set up Oregon State's comeback bid.
“The message for the team from today's game is that we can compete with anyone in this conference,” Berg said. “We just have to have all three aspects of our game going.”
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.
OREGON STATE ATHLETICS' EVERYDAY CHAMPIONS CULTURE
Through the power of sport, we help people discover and pursue their passions, talents and purpose in order to live a life of balance and positive contribution.
