Women's Softball Falls to No. 25 Florida, 7-6
March 20, 1998
FULLERTON, Cali. - Sophomore Tarrah Beyster knocked out two home runs and junior Tasha Heddinger hit her first career homer, but their offensive power was not enough to lift 18th ranked Oregon State (16-6) over 25th ranked Florida at the Kia Klassic softball tournament late Thursday evening. The Beavers lost to the Gators, 7-6.
Beyster, who was 2-for-2 with a walk and three RBI, had two home runs in one game for the second time in her career. Heddinger went 2-for-4 and collected three RBI, which surpassed her career RBI total in just one game. Prior to Thursday's game, Heddinger had driven in just two runs in her career, one this year and one as a freshman in 1996.
Oregon State had 11 hits, while Florida collected just six, but the Beavers' three errors were what hurt OSU in the end. Oregon State jumped ahead 4-0 after a four-run third inning, but the Gators came back with six runs of their own in the fourth. OSU scored a run in the fourth and sixth innings to tie the game, but a Beaver error sent the Gators's Lora Pinkerton across the plate in the seventh for the victory. Pinkerton hit a one-out double and stole third when Florida looked to be attempting a bunt, bringing OSU third baseman Parisa Plant in to defend the faked bunt. OSU catcher Kelli Kranz overthrew the ball in an attempt to catch Pinkerton, who ended up scoring on the play.
Sophomore Brooke Hofstetter started the game on the mound for the Beavers, but Beyster replaced her with one out in the fourth. Beyster, for the most part, shut down the Gators and allowed just the one unearned run in the seventh. She fell to 12-3 with the loss.
Junior Jodi Chmielewski and senior Denise Brown continued their strong offensive play in the Kia Klassic with two hits apiece for the second consecutive game. With Chmielewski's four hits on the day, she now has 125 career hits, which ties her for sixth on OSU's all-time list.
Oregon State Softball at Kia Klassic Florida 000 600 1 -- 7 6 1 Oregon State 004 101 0 -- 6 11 3 Dieter and Molyneux. Hofstetter, Beyster (4) and Kranz. WP- Dieter. LP- Beyster (12-3). 2B- Pinkerston (UF). HR- Beyster, 2 (OSU), Heddinger (OSU), Lutzi (UF).
