Oregon State
1-0
Southern Utah
1-0
Mazon Throws First-Career No-Hitter as Beavers Take Two on Day One in Las Vegas
February 07, 2020 | Softball
Mariah Mazon and Trystan Melancon combine for 22 strikeouts on opening day of 2020 season.
Las Vegas, Nev. – Oregon State softball (2-0-0) posted two shutouts on opening day of the season at the 2020 Rebel Kickoff with victories over Southern Utah and UNLV at Eller Meyer Stadium in Las Vegas.
The Beavers were led in both games by impressive work from the circle by Trystan Melancon (1-0) and Mariah Mazon (1-0) who combined for 22 strikeouts over the course of two games. Melancon allowed only one hit while Mazon pitched her first career no-hitter.
Game One vs. Southern Utah – Won 5-0
For the first time since May 2, 2010, an OSU softball pitcher recorded 13 strikeouts in a single game as Melancon captured the victory for the Beavers in her first appearance wearing the Orange and Black.
Melancon made an impressive start finishing with two strikeouts in each of the first three innings, including eliminating a potential threat for OSU when SUU had runners on second and third.
The Beaver offense got going in the top of the fourth with freshman Val Pero hitting a single into right-center followed by sophomore Ashton Phillips drawing a walk. Freshman Xiao Gin stepped up to the plate and hit a single into right center that scored Pero to put the Beavers on the board and Phillips at third. Phillips used her speed two pitches later to score on a wild pitch.
Melancon kept things strong on the defensive side striking out the side swinging in the bottom half of the fourth before tacking on two more in the fifth.
The Tomball, Texas native finished things in the bottom of the sixth inning with two more strikeouts to bring her total to 13 on the game.
The Beaver offensive didn't slow down in the seventh inning after Southern Utah gave up an error allowing Grace Messmer to be safe at first before advancing to second on a passed ball. Sophomore Frankie Hammoude singled into shallow-center field and was replaced by pinch runner Karla Calderon to put runners on the corners. Messmer scored on a passed ball to extend the Beaver's lead to 3-0 while Calderon advanced to second.
Junior Missy Nunes notched her first two-run homer of the 2020 season over the left field fence bringing in Calderon to bring the Beavers to 5-0.
OSU finished the game with nine hits and one error while Melancon only allowed one hit.
Game Two vs. UNLV – Won 1-0
The Beavers defense started the second game right where the first one left off. Mazon picked up the first out with a strikeout before Gin and Messmer put on a show up the middle as Gin flipped a clean-fielded ball to Messmer at second allowing Messmer to complete the double-play to Nunes at first.
OSU made attempts throughout the game to get on the board, starting in the second inning with sophomore Izzy Owen hitting a single up the middle followed by Mazon singling through the left side. Sophomore Maia Rader loaded the bases with two outs with a slow-roller to UNLV's shortstop, but the Beavers left them stranded.
In the third, Gin singled and in the fourth Nunes was hit-by-a-pitch followed by Mazon singling but OSU wasn't able to capitalize on either opportunity.
The Beavers capitalized in the sixth when Mazon singled to right field. Calderon replaced her on first and was able to capitalize on a fielding error made by UNLV's shortstop off a hit by Rylee Maston to put runners on the corners with one out.
Rader come up clutch for Oregon State's offense with a sac fly scoring Calderon to give the Beavers a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Phillips sacrificed her body by making a diving catch to compliment Mazon striking out her seventh batter of the game.
Mazon went on to strike out two more batters in the bottom of the seventh inning to preserve her first career no-hitter and the first no-hitter in OSU history since former Beaver pitcher Taylor Cotton threw one on March 3, 2017 as Oregon State captured the 1-0 victory.
Up Next:
Oregon State returns to action tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. against Southern Utah before battling UNLV tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Melancon, Trystan (1-0)
L: GROVER, Kamryn (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Nunes, Missy 1
RBI: Gin, Xiao 1 ; Nunes, Missy 2
SH: Allen, Morgan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Messmer, Grace 1 ; Calderon, Karla 1 ; Nunes, Missy 1 ; Pero, Val 1 ; Zeiher, Ashton 1
SB: Gin, Xiao 1
HBP: Gin, Xiao 1 ; Nunes, Missy 1
Batting:
SH: BALL, Skyler 1
Base Running:
HBP: WEAVER, Dream 1
PO: GUERRA, Samantha 1
