Oregon State Drops Hard-Fought Loss to No. 7/7 LSU

Saturday, February 17

Baton Rouge, LA

5:30 PM

Oregon State

7-3

LSU

9-0

Oregon State

LSU

Photo by: Dave Nishitani/Oregon State Athletics

February 17, 2018 | Softball

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Beavers strike first, fall to Tigers 3-2

By: Athletic Communications

BATON ROUGE, La. – The No. RV/RV Oregon State University softball program left the first inning with a lead over No. 7/7 LSU on Saturday night at Tiger Park, but couldn't hold on to the decision as the hosts took the contest 3-2 on the nightcap at the Purple and Gold Challenge.

"It's a tough loss," said head coach Laura Berg. "I felt we were in control for most of the game except for one inning. Take that inning out and we win the ballgame.

"You have to be able to catch and to throw. It's a simple game."

The Beavers (7-3) struck first in the top half of the opening frame after senior McKenna Arriola (West Hills, Calif.) led off with a four-pitch walk, stole second and landed at third following a groundout from junior Jessica Garcia (Hughson, Calif.).

Junior Shelby Weeks (Tracy, Calif.) showcased her pull power with a deep ball that caromed off the right field wall and raced around the bags for a standup triple, plating Arriola in the process for a 1-0 lead.

Weeks ended up across home after senior Alysha Everett (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) sent a sacrifice fly to center field for a 2-0 Beaver lead heading into the bottom of the first.

Sophomore Nerissa Eason (Grass Valley, Calif.) got the start and went 3.1 innings, keeping the Tigers (9-0) well away from third base in the first two stanzas before finding herself in a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the third.

A 5-2-3 double play became the difference as freshman Missy Nunes (Livermore, Calif.) scooped a grounder from Amanda Doyle and sent the ball down to junior Kayleen Shafer (Mission Viejo, Calif.), who relayed the throw to freshman Hope Brandner (Vacaville, Calif.) to complete the twofer.

A fielder's choice ground ball to Nunes would end the inning as she stepped on third for the final out.

Eason got the hook with one out and two on in the top of the fourth for freshman Mariah Mazon (Tulare, Calif.) (2-3), but a Beaver miscue on the following batter allowed Becca Shulte to cross the plate before back-to-back, two-out singles from Doyle and Shemiah Sanchez put LSU up 3-2 heading into the fifth.

All three runs were unearned in the inning as Mazon took the loss.

Oregon State had one last chance to tally the equalizer in the top of the seventh as freshman Camryn Ybarra (Mission Viejo, Calif.) pushed a liner into left to lead off the inning.

Junior Michelle Sass (St. Helens, Ore.) pinch ran for Ybarra and swiped second base during the following at bat as senior Katy McJunkin (Visalia, Calif.) pinch hit for Shafer.

Allie Walljasper (4-0) struck out McJunkin before getting a popup from freshman Chance Burden (Huntington Beach, Calif.) for the second out.

Arriola drew another four-pitch walk to put runners at the corners before Garcia grounded out to short to end the contest.

The Beavers will remain at Tiger Park for one more day as they face No. 7/7 LSU once again to close out the Purple and Gold Challenge on Sunday, February 18, with first pitch scheduled for 10 a.m. PT.

For more information on the Oregon State softball team, visit OSUBeavers.com or follow the team @BeaverSoftball on Twitter

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