Oregon State
Washington
Home Runs Power OSU Softball Past Washington, 3-2
April 23, 2016 | Softball
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Solo home runs from each of senior second baseman Mikela Manewa and junior third baseman Madison Anthony proved to be the difference in a 3-2 win for the Oregon State softball team over the 10th-ranked Washington Huskies on Saturday at the OSU Softball Complex.
Saturday's result ties this year's series up at one win apiece. The two teams meet for the rubber match on Sunday at 3 p.m. PT. Sunday's series finale will be televised live nationally on the Pac-12 Network and regionally on each of Pac-12 Oregon and Pac-12 Washington.
“That was a huge win for us,” Oregon State head coach Laura Berg said. “We had all three aspects of the game going today. Bev Miller gave us a fantastic start today and Meehra Nelson came in and closed the door. I'm very happy to see the results.”
After scoring a run in the first inning on a wild pitch, Oregon State (27-15-1, 6-11 Pac-12) took a 2-1 lead in the second inning as the Beavers and Huskies (29-10, 10-7 Pac-12) took turns trading solo home runs. Tannon Snow accounted for the Huskies' homer to briefly tie the game at one apiece, but Anthony responded with a home run to left in the home half of the frame to put the Beavers back ahead by one.
Manewa added her solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning to put the Beavers ahead for good. The Huskies got a run back in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI double from Taylor Van Zee, but Oregon State right-handers Bev Miller (11-8) and Meehra Nelson combined to blank the Huskies down the stretch to seal the 3-2 win.
Miller held the Huskies to two runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts in six innings pitched to pick up the win. Nelson earned her Pac-12-best fifth save of the season after striking out two in a perfect final inning.
Left-hander Casey Stangel (6-3) was charged with the loss for Washington after allowing all three Beaver runs on as many hits with a walk in three innings. Madi Schreyer did not factor into the decision with three innings pitched in relief. Neither Washington pitcher struck out an Oregon State batter for the duration of the game.
Oregon State's first run was scored by sophomore shortstop McKenna Arriola, who opened the first inning with a single and moved into position to score on the wild pitch on a Shelby Weeks sacrifice bunt and an ensuing groundout. Freshman center fielder Jessica Garcia also picked up a hit, while Weeks was not retired for the game, turning her three plate appearances into the aforementioned sacrifice bunt and two walks.
Anthony added a crucial double play turned to her final line, as she tagged out Washington's Van Zee at third base and got the third out of the fifth inning on the throw to first base to keep the Huskies off the board. The Huskies only managed one baserunner for the reminder of the game, as the Beavers evened the series with a 3-2 win.
“That was a major league play by Madison to double them up at third and then first base,” Berg said. “We made some unbelievable defensive plays today between that and with McKenna at shortstop.”
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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