Oregon State
California
Hall Went the Distance But Softball Fell to No. 7 California, 1-0
May 07, 2011 | Softball
May 7, 2011
CORVALLIS - Pitching and defense was the story on Saturday but the Beavers could not find the timely hit they needed and fell to No. 7 California by a narrow, 1-0, margin at the Oregon State softball complex.
Junior Pitcher Paige Hall went the distance throwing a complete game for the Beavers and allowed just one run in the losing effort. It was just Hall's first start in the last three weeks but she was ready giving up six hits striking out five batters.
California (36-9 overall, 12-5 Pacific-10 Conference) scored the game's only run in the top of the second inning on a bases loaded fielder's choice and one out. Hall then struck out the next batter to end the threat but the Bears had taken a 1-0 lead.
The Bears threatened in the next three innings but the Beavers turned a double-play in each of the three innings to keep the game margin at 1-0.
Oregon State (18-24, 1-16) scattered four base hits over the final five innings of the game but could not string any together to put pressure on California starting pitcher Jolene Henderson.
Henderson finished the game with a complete game shutout and allowed four hits while striking out six Oregon State batters and walking one. She improved to 32-6 with the win.
California threatened in the top of the sixth after consecutive base hits to lead off the inning put runners on the corners with no outs. The runner at first stole second during the next at bat but the Beavers let the ball go through to shortstop Nikki Chandler who then ran down the runner at third trying to advance.
Chandler then threw the ball to Ally Kutz at home who then threw to Desiree Beltran at third picking off the runner at third for the first out. After a walk to the next batter, Hall got a strikeout before inducing a ground out to Beltran at third to end the inning.
In the bottom half of the sixth, the Beavers had the tying run at second base with two outs but could not find the base hit they need to tie the game.
Hall fell to 6-5 on the season with the loss Saturday.
The final game of the three-game set is tomorrow with first pitch slated for 11 a.m. It will be the final game of Strike Out Cancer weekend sponsored by the Corvallis Clinic. The softball team will be signing autographs following the game.
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