Oregon State
Arizona
Softball Defeats No. 23 Arizona on Play at Plate
April 26, 2013 | Softball
April 26, 2013
CORVALLIS, Ore. – A grounder up the middle that seemed destined to tie the score for No. 23 Arizona in the seventh inning of Friday's Pac-12 matchup turned on a dime thanks to an outstanding defensive play from Oregon State sophomore second baseman Ya Garcia. In a matter of moments, a surefire RBI single that would have prolonged the contest turned into a game-ending play at the plate to preserve a 2-1 Oregon State victory.
Arizona (28-20) was down to its final out and had runners at first and second. Garcia nabbed Lauren Young's grounder behind the bag at second and looked toward first. With no play there, her attention turned quickly to Chelsea Suitos' mad dash to the plate. Garcia's throw to catcher Ally Kutz was on time to nail Suitos for the final out.
Senior pitcher Tina Andreana pitched her second consecutive sparkler as she carried a no-hitter through 3 1/3 innings. She pitched a two-hit shutout Sunday at No. 10 California. Andreana struck out five and stranded 10 Arizona runners. In their final four at-bats, the Wildcats left multiple runners on base while only plating a single run. That run in the top of the fourth came across on Arizona's first hit of the game as Chelsea Goodacre's base hit chased home Suitos, who had walked to start the frame.
The Beavers (28-17) took the lead in the second inning with Lea Cavestany starting the party with a double down the left field line. Freshman Natalie Hampton was hit by a pitch and Desiree Beltran reached on an error to load the bases. Kutz flied out to right to bring Cavestany home for a 1-0 OSU advantage.
After Arizona tied it in the fourth, the Beavers answered with the eventual winning run in their part of the fifth inning. Kutz led off with a double and pinch runner Mollee Schwegler came around on a double by Ashley Sanchez three hitters later.
No batter had more than one hit. The eleven hits in the game were spread around to 11 players. Four of the Beavers' six hits were doubles, tying a season high.
Oregon State now has the chance tomorrow to clinch a season series victory over Arizona for the first time since 2005. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. The first 100 fans in attendance will receive a pink foam noodle. After the game, the Beavers will sign autographs.
