Bats Go Cold as Beavers Drop Series Finale

Sunday, April 23

Corvallis, Ore.

12:00 PM

Oregon State

24-19, 6-9

Stanford

18-24, 1-14

Stanford

Oregon State

April 23, 2017 | Softball

Box Score Box Score

By: Jeff Schmidt

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State softball team racked up six hits in the first two frames, but the bats went cold as the Beavers dropped the final game of the series to Stanford, 8-6 in eight innings on Sunday afternoon at the OSU Softball Complex. The Beavers won the first two games of the series to win the series for the fourth-straight season.

The Cardinal loaded the base in the first two innings, but the Beaver defense made some timely outs to keep Stanford off the board. The Beavers started the home half of the first inning with a pair of singles and moved them both into scoring position after a wild pitch. Natalie Hampton hit a single up the middle to score the pair and give the Beavers an early lead. Oregon State juiced the bases for Kayleen Shafer who walked in another run after a five-pitch walk to build a three-run lead.

Oregon State added to its lead in the bottom of the second, after Alysha Everett hit a two-run homer for her eighth of the season to give the Beavs a 5-0 lead.

The Cardinal started the third inning with a lead-off double and got on the board two batters later after a home run to right center. Stanford continued to produce runs in the inning after a costly error with two outs scored another two runs. The Cardinal singled the following at bat to tie the game before hitting another base hit to take a one-run lead. Nerissa Eason ended the run with a strikeout and forced the Card to leave the bases loaded.

The Beavers did not let the Cardinal lead long, as Stephanie Merwin took a walk with one out and moved to second before McKenna Arriola knocked a 2-out RBI single to right to tie the game 6-6 in the third.

Stanford tried to retake the lead in the fourth after loading the bases again, but a pop out ended the inning.

Both teams struggled to score down the stretch despite putting runners in position. The Cardinal threatened in the top of the seventh with runners in scoring position, but a foul and fly out retired the side.

The Beavers led the seventh off with a single by Noland and moved her to second, but could not push her across the plate.

In extras, Stanford put a pair of runners on base in the top of the eighth with two outs before retaking the lead with a triple to right center to clear the bases and take a two-run lead.

Oregon State looked to respond, but fail to manufacture any base runners in the bottom of the eighth.

McKenna Arriola led the Beaver offense with three hits, while Sammi Noland added a pair. Alysha Everett and Natalie Hampton both tailed two RBIs each.

The Beavers used three different pitchers in the loss as Taylor Cotton was tabbed with the loss. Meehra Nelson made the start and threw 2 2/3 innings before Nerissa Eason came in as relief. Nelson hurled the majority of the innings with 3 1/3 before Cotton finished the game. The trio punched out four batters while recorded four earned runs collectively.

Oregon State (24-19, 6-9 Pac-12) will head to Oregon next weekend for a three-game Civil War Series starting on Friday night.

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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