Oregon State
Washington
OSU Outlasted by Washington, 3-2, in 10 Innings
April 23, 2016 | Softball
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State softball team fell to the 10th-ranked Washington Huskies, 3-2, in 10 innings in the first matchup of a three-game Pac-12 series on Friday at the OSU Softball Complex.
Oregon State (26-15-1) led, 2-1, entering the top of the seventh inning. The Huskies (29-9, 10-6 Pac-12) were down to their last out in the frame, but Washington leadoff batter Ali Aguilar hit a solo home run to left field that just cleared the wall, knotting the game up at two apiece. The Beavers were unable to score in the home half of the frame, and the game went to extra innings.
The team exchanged scoreless eighth and ninth innings before the top of the 10th, in which the Huskies scored the deciding run. Aguilar led off the frame with a walk, and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Washington's Kimberlee Souza. Relief pitcher Meehra Nelson (15-7) induced a flyout in the next at-bat to force the Huskies into another two-out situation, but UW's Tannon Snow singled up the middle in the next at-bat to drive in the game-winning run.
Oregon State was retired in order in the bottom of the 10th inning to end the game. The Beavers had the opportunity to win the game with runners on second and third with one out in the ninth, but struck out twice and stranded both runners. OSU outhit the Huskies, 9-5, but left nine on base by the end of Friday's game.
“We didn't get the key hit in the ninth inning after getting runners on second and third with less than two outs,” Oregon State head coach Laura Berg said. “You have to get the big hits when it matters. It's different when nobody's on base, but when the pressure's on, you've got to perform.”
Nelson, who threw 115 pitches in relief, was charged with the tough-luck loss despite holding the Huskies to two runs on the RBI single, solo home run and three walks with six strikeouts in six innings pitched. Senior righty Bev Miller did not factor into the decision in her four-inning start for the Beavers despite holding the Huskies to one run on three hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts.
The Huskies' Taran Alvelo (15-5) earned the win after tossing 155 pitches over all 10 innings. The righty's final line included two runs (one earned) against on nine hits and a walk with 11 strikeouts.
Friday's game between Oregon State and Washington was the longest played at OSU Softball Complex this season. Additionally, Friday's matchup marked the second 10-inning affair for the Beavers this season after a victory by the same score in as many frames at Stanford on April 3.
Offensively, Oregon State was led by sophomore left fielder Lovie Lopez, who finished 3-for-4, including what was the go-ahead RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning. Her two-out RBI knock drove in junior third baseman Madison Anthony from first base following her one-out single. Freshman right fielder Shelby Weeks went 2-for-5 to record her fourth multiple-hit effort over the past seven games.
The Beavers' other RBI was accounted for by senior second baseman Mikela Manewa, who drove in sophomore shortstop McKenna Arriola on a third-inning RBI single just beyond a diving effort down the right field line. Manewa' RBI single tied up the game after Washington opened the scoring in the second inning on a Morganne Flores solo home run.
This weekend's series between Oregon State and Washington continues on Saturday with a 1 p.m. PT matchup. The series wraps up on Sunday, with the finale slated to begin at 3 p.m. PT.
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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