Beavers Sweep Weekend Behind Strong Pitching

Sunday, March 5

San Diego, Calif.

9:00 AM

Oregon State

12-5

Detroit

3-12

Detroit Mercy

Oregon State

March 05, 2017 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score vs. Detroit Mercy Box Score vs. San Diego

By: Jeff Schmidt

SAN DIEGO – The Oregon State softball team finished the San Diego Classic perfect, after a pair of wins on Sunday against Detroit Mercy and host San Diego. The Beavers posted an 8-0 win against the Titans in five innings, before a 7-0 victory versus the Toreros.

Jessica Garcia and McKenna Arriola fought off flu-like symptoms and started both games, while Taylor Cotton gutted it out and started and hurled a complete-game shutout against USD

GAME 1 VS. DETROIT MERCY
In the early game, the Beavers recorded six hits and scored eight runs, including a walk-off home run to end the game early.

Both teams went straight through the lineups in the first frame before the Beavers started the second inning with a double by Natalie Hampton. Oregon State went on to score three in the inning to take the lead with some help from a Titan error, which scored two runs.

The Beavers added to their lead in the bottom of the third after a two-out double by Alysha Everett scored a run and Sammi Noland followed with a single to put the score at 5-0.

Oregon State again added a run in the fourth inning after Kayleen Shafer lead off with a double. Riley Gregire pinch ran and came around to score after a two-out fielding error allowed Shelby Weeks to reach first.

The Beavers put a runner on via walk, before Noland came to bat and smashed a home run to left field to end the game by the run rule.

Noland paced the offense with a 3-for-3 performance, including three RBI. Nerissa Eason recorded her sixth win of the season after hurling a complete one-hit shutout. The freshman gave up the lone hit in the top of the fourth inning while totaling three strikeouts.

GAME 2 VS. SAN DIEGO
The Beavers continued its momentum in the final game of the Classic as Taylor Cotton hurled a 2-hit shutout and Lovie Lopez jacked a grand slam to help complete the weekend undefeated.

Oregon State jumped on the board early after Natalie Hampton singled with two outs to give the Beavers their first runner in the first inning. Lovie Lopez followed it with a double to left center to push Hampton across.

Lopez wasn't done, the junior followed her first plate appearance with a two-out grand slam in the second inning to give the Beavers a 5-0 lead. The bases got jammed after a pair of walks by Kayleen Shafer and McKenna Arriola and a single by Jessica Garcia.

San Diego put its first base runners on in the bottom of the third, but they would stay there as the Oregon State defense was in lock down.

The Beavers added to their lead with two runs in the fourth, keyed from a double by Arriola and an RBI by Weeks.

The Toreros continued to struggle getting runners on base as they went down in order in the fifth and sixth innings. USD put a leadoff runner on in the seventh, but the Beavers stuffed any scoring attempt to secure the victory.

Natalie Hampton lead the Beavers finishing 3-of-4 from the dish, while Lovie Lopez added four RBI. Arriola, Lopez and Jessica Garcia all recorded a pair of hits in the win.

Taylor Cotton picked up her fifth win of the season and second shutout of the year after the two-hit shutout. The senior punched out five batters, while walking just one.

Oregon State (13-5) will close its non-conference schedule next week at the Fresno State Classic.

For more information on the Oregon State softball team, follow the team's official Twitter and Instagram accounts at @BeaverSoftball or by Facebook at /BeaverSoftball.

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