No. 22 OSU Splits with Big Ten Foes at Judi Garman

Saturday, March 5

Fullerton, CA

9:30 AM

Oregon State

14-4

Michigan

18-2

Oregon State

Michigan

Photo by: Dave Nishitani/Oregon State Athletics

March 06, 2016 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Athletic Communications

FULLERTON, Calif. – The 22nd-ranked Oregon State softball team split its matchups with a pair of Big Ten foes at the Judi Garman Classic on Saturday, as the Beavers fell to the No. 3/2 Michigan Wolverines, 9-3, but bounced back to defeat the Wisconsin Badgers, 3-1, at Anderson Family Field.

Freshman right-hander Meehra Nelson (10-2) picked up the win in a complete-game effort against Wisconsin, striking out seven while allowing only one run on four hits and two walks in seven innings pitched. Senior righty Bev Miller (5-2) was charged with the loss in her outing against Michigan.

“We gave up six free bags to Michigan, and when you give up six free bags to a team like them, you're not going to win the ball game,” Oregon State head coach Laura Berg said. “We have to do a better job of getting ahead of opposing hitters and taking care of the ball. Things were a lot closer than the score indicated.”

Junior third baseman Madison Anthony drove in all three of Oregon State's runs against Michigan on her fourth home run of the season. Sophomore shortstop McKenna Arriola added an RBI on a single to open scoring against Wisconsin, while sophomore left fielder Lovie Lopez drove in the remaining pair of runs on her third home run of the season.

Sophomore first baseman Alysha Everett added a triple, single and walk to finish the day reaching base at a rate of .500.

Oregon State returns to action on Sunday for the final day of the Judi Garman Classic at Anderson Family Field. The Beavers are set to open the day with a game against North Carolina at 9 a.m. PT, and will close out the weekend against No. 22/21 Fresno State at 11:30 a.m. PT.

Game One: No. 3/2 Michigan 9, No. 22 Oregon State 3
Michigan drove in the game's first run in the game's opening inning. Oregon State used a pair of fielder's choices to record the first two outs, but the Wolverines drew a pair of walks to put runners on first and second. Michigan's Tera Blanco followed with a bloop single to right, and the Wolverines' Sierra Romero beat the throw home to make it a 1-0 game heading to the second inning.

Anthony gave the Beavers the lead in the top of the third inning on a three-run home run. Lopez, who leads the Pac-12 in times hit by pitch, was hit for the fifth time this season with one out in the frame. She moved to third on a wild pitch and groundout, and was joined on the corners by Natalie Hampton, who reached on a walk. With the count at 1-0, Anthony blasted a two-out, three-run home run over the left field wall to send the Beavers to the home half of the frame leading 3-1,

After the three-run Beaver frame, Michigan answered with three runs in the bottom half of the third to retake the lead. All three runs came with two outs after the bases were loaded on a Wolverine single and two walks. Aidan Falk drove in the first two runners on a single to right, and Alex Sobczak followed with a single through the left side to cap off the three-run frame and give Michigan a 4-3 lead through three.

Michigan added a pair of runs to extend its lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Wolverines' Sierra Lawrence was hit by pitch to open the frame before moving to third on a stolen base and a Romero single. With two outs, the Wolverines' Blanco sent a triple to right to plate both runners and give Michigan a 6-3 advantage.

A three-run home run by Michigan's Kelsey Susalla in the bottom of the sixth put the game out of reach, as the Beavers fell to the No. 3/2-ranked Wolverines, 9-3.

Game Two: No. 22 Oregon State 3, Wisconsin 1
Nelson and Wisconsin starter Taylor-Paige Stewart exchanged clean frames over the first two innings, but Oregon State opened the scoring with a three-spot in the top of the third. Shelby Weeks led off the top of the third with a single and moved to second on a steal to set up Arriola, who drove her in on a single to right. Lopez followed her with a home run to straightaway center, and the Beavers held a 3-0 lead after the top of the third inning.

Following the Beavers' scoring frame, Wisconsin answered with a run in the home half of the third inning. A pair of singles gave the Badgers runners on first and second before the runners moved to second and third, respectively, on a double steal. The Badgers' Chloe Miller followed with a sacrifice fly to foul territory in left, allowing the runner to score from third and cut the lead to 3-1.

Oregon State did not add any runs over the final four innings, but Nelson held Wisconsin off the board as well, earning her 10th win of the season and the 15th for the Beavers.

“Our players are still not quite themselves from earlier in the season,” Berg said. “We left the personality from our first three weekends back in Corvallis. We've got to wake them up a little bit, especially those bats that are still asleep.”

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.

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