Oregon State
Arizona State
Nelson Breaks OSU Saves Record in 4-3 Win Over ASU
May 14, 2016 | Softball
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State softball team scored four runs over the first four innings and held on to win by one, as freshman right-hander Meehra Nelson dealt a perfect final inning to break the school single-season saves record in a 4-3 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils on Friday at the OSU Softball Complex.
Nelson struck out one in the clean final frame to pick up her seventh save of the season, setting the new single-season saves standard at Oregon State. Her seventh save breaks what was a four way tie with Paige Hall (six saves in 2012), Monica Hoffman (2004) and Tarrah Beyster (1999).
With the result, Oregon State (30-18-1, 9-14 Pac-12) clinches the series over Arizona State (30-24, 6-17 Pac-12). The regular season closes with Senior Day on Saturday. First pitch is slated for noon PT.
“Our ladies definitely hit a lot better today than they did yesterday,” Oregon State head coach Laura Berg said. “Defensively, I thought we played well. McKenna Arriola made some great plays at shortstop. Bev Miller did great, keeping hitters off balance and getting a lot of ground balls. Meehra did what we needed her to do and got the save.”
Senior righty Bev Miller (13-10) earned the win for the Beavers after holding the Sun Devils to three runs on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six innings pitched. Right-hander Dale Ryndak (8-6) was charged with the loss for the Sun Devils after allowing all four Beaver runs over the first three innings.
Oregon State was led offensively by catcher Kayleen Shafer, who plated the Beavers' fourth run on her fifth home run of the season, a solo shot in the fourth inning, as part of a 2-for-3 effort. First baseman Natalie Hampton also went 2-for-3 with one RBI, while each of second baseman Mikela Manewa and designated player Alysha Everett recorded RBI singles.
Each of Hampton, Everett and Manewa drove in her respective RBI with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. Arriola accounted for the first Beaver run scored, as she crossed home plate from second on Hampton's RBI single after a walk and sacrifice bunt. Hampton moved to second on a walk by left fielder Lovie Lopez in the next at-bat, before each scored on respective RBI singles by Everett and Manewa.
Arizona State chipped away with its first run in the top of the third inning, as the Sun Devils' Jennifer Soria tripled and scored on a Nikki Girard RBI single up the middle.
ASU's Soria, who finished the game 2-for-4, drove in the Sun Devils' second run on an RBI single in the top of the sixth. Soria reached second base on the play on the throw home, moving the Sun Devils' Ulufa Leilua to third base. Leilua, who had reached on a five-pitch walk, scored in the next at-bat on a wild pitch to narrow the Beavers' lead to 4-3.
Nelson entered in relief of Miller in the next inning, striking out one as she retired the Sun Devils in order to seal the win and ink her name in the record books.
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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