Oregon State
UCLA
OSU Softball Falls in 7-5 Setback at No. 13 UCLA
April 17, 2016 | Softball
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Oregon State softball team outhit No. 13/14 UCLA, but the Bruins tallied five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Beavers fell to the Bruins, 7-5, in game two of a three-game Pac-12 series on Saturday from Easton Stadium.
Oregon State (26-13-1, 5-9 Pac-12) slugged nine hits in comparison to UCLA's (27-12-1, 8-4-1 Pac-12) six base knocks. However, the Beavers left eight on base over the course of the game, while the Bruins only stranded four.
Trailing 7-5 entering the sixth inning, Oregon State looked poised for a scoring frame, loading the bases on walks drawn by shortstop McKenna Arriola and catcher Kayleen Shafer and a single by center fielder Jessica Garcia. However, OSU batters were retired in the next three at-bats on two strikeouts and a fielder's choice at home plate, as the Beavers stranded all three runners in their top opportunity to score late.
“We allowed runs on some critical walks, but most importantly tonight, we were never able to get the key hit,” Oregon State head coach Laura Berg said. “We had bases loaded and nobody out and we struck out and grounded out. Those are situations that we need to be taking advantage of.”
Oregon State was retired in order in the top of the seventh inning, as the Beavers fell 7-5 to set up Sunday's rubber match. First pitch for the series finale is slated for noon PT.
Senior righty Bev Miller (10-7) was charged with the loss in relief for the Beavers, as she was on the hook for the final two runs (one earned) with three hits and a walk allowed and two strikeouts. Freshman right-hander Meehra Nelson did not factor into the decision in her 21st start of the season, allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts.
Two-hit games were recorded by Garcia, designated player Natalie Hampton and second baseman Mikela Manewa, who drove in two on a home run. Garcia's line included her fourth double of the season, while first baseman Alysha Everett accounted for the Beavers' remaining RBI on a sacrifice fly.
The first two runs of the game came in the top of the fourth inning, as Oregon State scored two on what was perhaps the Beavers' longest home run of the season. With Shelby Weeks on base on a leadoff single, Manewa sent a towering blast over the videoboard in left and well into the trees for a 2-0 OSU advantage.
The Bruins responded with a two-run home run of their own in the home half of the fourth inning on a Madeline Jelenicki home run to center. The lead run was unearned, as Delaney Spaulding reached on a Beaver throwing error.
After beginning the game with three scoreless frames, the Beavers recorded their second consecutive scoring inning with a trio of runs in the top of the fifth. The Beavers' first two batters combined to open the scoring frame, as Garcia reached third on a double and error and crossed home plate on an Arriola RBI single. With two outs, the Beavers loaded the bases on a Weeks HBP and Hampton single, setting up the final two Beaver runs of the frame. Arriola scored the first on a wild pitch, while Weeks scored on an Everett sacrifice fly to give OSU a 5-2 advantage.
For the second straight inning, UCLA responded in the bottom of an OSU scoring frame, taking the lead with five runs in the home half of the fifth. The entirety of the Bruins' rally came with two outs, loading the bases on a pair of walks and a single. A bases-loaded walk issued to Mysha Sataraka plated the first run, and two apiece came in on a Jelenicki single and a Gabrielle Maurice double as the Bruins capped the scoring at 7-5 after five innings.
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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