OSU Softball Travels to DeMarini Desert Classic
February 18, 2016 | Softball
DeMarini Desert Classic
Stephanie Lynn Craig Park
Henderson, Nev.
*All times below listed in Pacific Time
Friday, Feb. 19
Robert Morris | 1:30 p.m. PT
Hawai'I | 3:45 p.m. PT
Saturday, Feb. 20
Wichita State | 11:15 a.m. PT
UC-Davis | 3:45 p.m. PT
Sunday, Feb. 21
Boise State | 11:15 a.m. PT
San Jose State | 1:30 p.m. PT
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State softball team is set to continue its 2016 campaign with a six-game tournament, as the Beavers are set to travel to the Silver State from Friday, Feb. 19 through Sunday, Feb. 21 for the DeMarini Desert Classic.
Oregon State scatters six games throughout the weekend with a pair of matchups each day, beginning with meetings with Robert Morris (1:30 p.m. PT/2:30 p.m. MT) and Hawai'I (3:45 p.m. PT/4:45 p.m. MT) on Friday. The Beavers continue the weekend with Saturday games against Wichita State (11:15 a.m. PT/12:15 p.m. MT) and UC-Davis (3:45 p.m. PT/4:45 p.m. MT), and bookend the weekend on Sunday in a game against Boise State (11:15 a.m. PT/12:15 p.m. MT) and a rematch with San Jose State (1:30 p.m. PT/2:30 p.m. MT).
The Beavers look to continue the momentum of a 4-1 weekend that included wins over No. 18 Kentucky (8-0 in six innings), Sunday opponent San Jose State (14-10), CSUN (6-2) and New Mexico (11-1 in five innings). After Oregon State's convincing win over Kentucky, the Wildcats went on to defeat a trio of ranked Pac-12 foes (No. 6 Oregon, No. 17 Arizona State and No. 23 Utah).
Oregon State's opponents this weekend are a combined 11-19, highlighted by a 4-2 mark owned by Hawai'i. Notably, the Rainbow Wahine defeated Ole Miss, 3-0, but fell to the Rebels, 6-5, in their eight-inning rematch. Under head coach Laura Berg, Oregon State is a combined 3-2 against this weekend's opposition.
Live stats will be made available throughout the tournament. Links for live stats will be posted as they are available, and can be accessed through the 2016 softball schedule page on OSUBeavers.com.
Leading Off
- In each of the past three seasons under head coach Laura Berg, Oregon State has set a new record for team batting average, matching the 2006 mark with a .280 team batting average in 2013 before breaking the record in consecutive seasons, hitting .287 as a team in 2014 and .298 in 2015. As a team this season, Oregon State has hit .381 and reached base at a .491 clip thus far.
- Freshman right-hander Meehra Nelson has opened her career at Oregon State with authority, as she is undefeated through her first three collegiate starts (3-0) and leads the pitching staff in every statistical category, including ERA (0.98), strikeouts (29), innings pitched (21.1), batting average against (.123), appearances (5), starts (3) and complete games (3) with the team's only shutout.
- Nelson's shutout came in Oregon State's 8-0 six-inning victory over No. 18 Kentucky. The Simi Valley, Calif. native two-hit the Wildcats, striking out five in six scoreless innings to spur the big win.
- Sophomore outfielder Lovie Lopez either leads or is tied for the Beavers' lead in seven statistical categories thus far, pacing the club in doubles (3), total bases (13), slugging percentage (1.000), on-base percentage (.667) and times hit by pitch (3), while tying for the team lead with one of three home runs and a pair of stolen bases.
- Sophomore shortstop McKenna Arriola paces the club in three offensive categories from the leadoff spot, ranking first on the squad in batting average (.556), hits (10) and with a pair of stolen bases.
Student-Athlete Profile
No. 3 Jessica Garcia
Freshman Outfielder
Hometown: Hughson, Calif. (Hughson HS)
- Major is undecided
- Daughter of Julie and Frank Garcia
- Has two older brothers, Nico and Cominic
- Began playing softball at age six
- With her free time outside of softball, she enjoys playing other sports, dancing, watching Netflix and catching up on her sleep
- Describes the coaching staff as “competitive and funny, but down to business when we all need to be”
- Also competed in basketball in high school, averaging 20 points per game and eight rebounds per game
Nelson Named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week
- Following wins in all three of her starts to begin her collegiate career, freshman right-handed pitcher Meehra Nelson was named Pac-12 Softball Freshman of the Week, the conference announced on Wednesday morning.
- Following the Beavers' win over Kentucky in her first collegiate start, Nelson won her starts against each of CSUN and New Mexico in respective complete-game outings. The freshman held CSUN to a pair of runs on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts, and capped the weekend by limiting New Mexico to a single run on two hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts.
- This season, Nelson leads the Pac-12 in innings pitched (21.1) and batting average against (.123), while ranking second in strikeouts (29) - one behind the Pac-12 leader - and second in ERA (0.98) amongst athletes with at least 10 innings pitched.
Return of a Record-Setting Offense
- The Beavers return six lineup regulars from a 2015 squad that lit up multiple lists in Oregon State's all-time school record books. As a team last season, Oregon State set the school record for batting average, had the second-most runs scored and RBI in program history, and the fourth-most doubles and walks.
- Oregon State returns many of the players chiefly responsible for those team, as Mikela Manewa placed second on the team in batting average (.338), RBI (37) and walks (26) last year, while McKenna Arriola finished second in runs scored (39) and Sammi Noland led the team in RBI (40) and placed second in doubles (9).
- Under head coach Laura Berg, Oregon State has made many other entries in the all-time record books in previous seasons, including in batting average twice (.287 in 2014 - 2nd all-time; 280 in 2013 – 3rd all-time), runs scored (227 in 2013 – 5th all-time), RBI (245 in 2013 – 5th all-time), walks (179 in 2013 – 5th all-time), home runs (52 in 2013 – 4th all-time) and triples (14 in 2014 – 5th all-time).
2015 Team in All-Time Program Records
1st – Batting Average (.298; broke record of .287 from 2014)
2nd – Runs Scored (300; record is 301 in 2012)
2nd – Runs Batted In (265; record is 269 in 2012)
4th – Doubles (74; record is 88 in 2003)
4th – Walks (182; record is 204 in 1999)
What the Beavers Bring Back
- In each of the past three seasons under head coach Laura Berg, Oregon State has set a new record for team batting average, matching the 2006 mark with a .280 team batting average in 2013 before breaking the record in consecutive seasons, hitting .287 as a team in 2014 and .298 in 2015.
- The Beavers return six lineup regulars from the 2015 team, including senior infielder Mikela Manewa, who finished the season hitting .338, as well as redshirt junior infielder Natalie Hampton, who owns OSU's single-season RBI record (50 in 2013), and senior catcher Sammi Noland, who led the Beavers in RBI in 2015 (40) and is OSU's top returning leader in home runs (8).
- In the circle, ace right-hander Bev Miller returns for her senior season after posting a 15-13 record in 2015 with a 3.64 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 194.1 innings pitched.
- Providing depth behind Miller are junior south paw Taylor Cotton, who tossed 49.1 innings last season, as well as newcomer Meehra Nelson, who joins the Beavers after finishing high school with a 0.96 ERA.
Looking Ahead
- Following this weekend's action at the DeMarini Desert Classic, the Oregon State softball team will continue the 2016 season in Palm Springs, Calif. next week for the Mary Nutter Classic. The tournament opens on Thursday, Feb. 25 with a matchup against No. 14/10 Oklahoma at 12:30 p.m. PT. Included amongst the Beavers' opponents that week are Northwestern, Loyola Marymount, Bethune-Cookman and New Mexico State.
- After the Mary Nutter Classic, the Beavers close out their non-conference slate with the Judi Garman Classic from March 4-6 and the Matador Classic from March 11-13.
About OSU Athletics
- The mission of the OSU Department of Athletics is to provide opportunities to young people and develop leaders through a tradition of academic and athletic achievement in a progressive, inclusive environment of mutual respect.
For more information on the Oregon State softball team, follow the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/OregonStateSB, by Facebook at Facebook.com/OregonStateSB or on Instagram at Instagram.com/OregonStateSB.
