Oregon State
Arizona
Softball Caps Thrilling Sweep With Comeback Win
April 28, 2013 | Softball
April 28, 2013
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Pink may not be in the Oregon State University color palette, but it sure has a special place in the Beavers' hearts after completing a weekend sweep of No. 23 Arizona in the StrikeOut Cancer series. Donning their pink jerseys for the third consecutive day, the Beavers (30-17) came from behind in the eighth inning to beat the Wildcats, 2-1, for the third straight time.
Oregon State and Arizona (29-21) played scoreless ball for the full seven innings to send the game into extras. The Wildcats finally solved senior pitcher Tina Andreana in the top of the eighth. After a walk and a hit batter, center fielder Alex Lavine singled up the middle to bring home the first run of the game. Two batters later with the bases loaded and one out, a grounder to third baseman Desiree Beltran cut down a potential second run at the plate. A fly to Lea Cavestany in left ended the inning with Arizona ahead, 1-0.
After Isabelle Batayola taking her place, senior Ashley Sanchez reached when the fielder's choice attempt at second was too tardy to retire Batayola. The Beavers had the winning run on base for shortstop Elizabeth Santana. On the first pitch she saw, she ripped a grounder right at third baseman Lauren Young. Young stepped on the bag for the force out, but her throw to first missed its mark to allow Sanchez to move to third and Santana to reach second.
Cavestany followed with a single to left to bring Sanchez home easily to tie the score as Santana rounded third. She met the throw at the plate, but it was bobbled by catcher Chelsea Goodacre as she attempted to block Santana's path. Santana snuck her foot in to give the Beavers the win and the sweep. It's the Beavers' first ever sweep of Arizona and first Pac-12 sweep since 2007 against California.
Andreana played a large role in the Oregon State success this weekend. She struck out five more hitters Sunday, matching her total from Friday's victory. In her past three starts, she's pitched 22 innings while allowing just two runs and striking out 17 hitters. A third-inning double today is the only extra base hit she's allowed to go along with her 0.64 ERA in that time.
She also worked her way around trouble, leaving 14 Arizona runners stranded. She kept the Beavers in the game as the offense woke up as the game progressed. Doremus had three solid at-bats on the day, including the team's first hit on a single to left. Cavestany led off the bottom of the seventh with a double off the shortstop's glove in shallow center field, but the Wildcats tiptoed through the minefield to send the game to extras.
Oregon State steps out of conference for a doubleheader at Portland State on Tuesday, with the first pitch of game one scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
