Oregon State
Utah State
No. 16 Softball Sweeps Double-Header With Utah State, 9-0 And 7-0
March 28, 2004 | Softball
March 28, 2004
CORVALLIS, Ore. - The No. 16 ranked Oregon State softball team cruised to a double-header sweep of Utah State University on Sunday at the OSU Softball Complex. The Beavers recorded a 9-0 five inning victory in game-one, before shutting out the Aggies, 7-0, in the nightcap.
With the victories, Oregon State improves its record to 30-9 on the season, marking the sixth consecutive year in which the Beavers have earned 30 or more wins.
"It's always better to be on a winning streak than a losing streak," said OSU head coach Kirk Walker. "Our athletes really came to play today."
The Beavers dominated the first game, using a six-run second inning to put the contest out of reach. Freshman hurler Brianne McGowan helped her own cause when she led-off the second inning with her fourth home run of the season in a lined shot over the center field fence. OSU pounded five hits in the frame while batting around the order. Lisa Allen added a double and Vanessa Iapala had a two-RBI single to left field as eight different Beaver batters reached base.
Utah State broke up McGowan's perfect game when Haven Vance singled to left field in the top of the fourth, but the Aggies were unable to push any runs across the plate.
McGowan (6-2) struck out six batters en route to her third shutout of the season. The Reno, NV, native was also a perfect 2-for-2 from the plate.
Seven different OSU players picked up at least one hit in the game and junior newcomer Carrie Syphers tallied her first career hit.
Junior Kelly Petersen blasted her sixth home run of the season with a three-run shot to center field in the bottom of the fourth, giving OSU a 9-0 advantage.
The home run moved Petersen into sole possession of 3rd place in the Oregon State record book with 16 career homers.
In the second game, Oregon State picked up where it left off. Iapala gave the Beavers an early lead when she belted a three-run home run over the left field fence in the first inning. OSU added four more runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by RBIs from Iapala, Allen, and sophomore Ingrid Lochelt.
Iapala finished the game with a perfect 3-for-3 clip from the plate and four RBI, while Allen was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and a triple.
Freshman pitcher Ta'Tyana McElroy upped her record to 10-1 on the year while allowing just three hits and recording three strikeouts in five innings of work. Senior Dena DuBois closed out the game with two innings of relief.
Oregon State heads to the Bay Area for a non-conference showdown with Saint Mary's College on Thursday before returning to Pac-10 action against Stanford and California. The Beavers and Gaels will meet in Moraga, CA, at 2 p.m.
GAME RESULTS:
Game 1
Utah State - 000 00 - 0 2 0
No. 16 Oregon State - 060 3x - 9 8 0
McGowan and Allen (OSU), Higley, Bruins (2) and Hatch (US). WP - McGowan (6-2). LP - Higley (4-8). 2B - Allen (OSU). HR - McGowan (OSU), Petersen (OSU).
Game 2
Utah State - 000 000 0 - 0 5 0
No. 16 Oregon State - 300 040 x - 7 10 0
McElroy, DuBois (6) and Iapala (OSU), Garnett and Hatch (US). WP - McElroy (10-1). LP - Garnett (0-11). 2B - Allen (OSU). 3B - Allen (OSU). HR - Iapala (OSU).
