Softball Splits with No. 1 UCLA
April 18, 1999
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Crystal Draper pitched a six-hitter to lift the No. 12 Oregon State softball team to a 5-3 win over No. 1 UCLA in the second game of a Pacific-10 doubleheader at Ropes-Fetrow Field on Sunday.
The top-ranked Bruins (45-2, 12-2 Pac-10) won the opener, 10-0, in five innings after hitting five home runs against the Beavers (38-13, 9-5 Pac-10).
"The win is a huge one for this program, not only for this season but for the history of the program," said coach Kirk Walker. "It was great to see our kids come back and respond after not coming prepared the first game."
The Beavers trailed, 1-0, heading into the bottom of the fifth inning in the second game. Brooke Rutschman doubled to left field to start the inning, and Jodi Chmielewski grounded out to UCLA pitcher Courtney Dale, who then intentionally walked Tarrah Beyster. Tasha Heddinger came in to run for Beyster, and the runners advanced to second and third on Kim Herman's fly out to deep centerfield. Rutschman scored the tying run on Jenni Jodoin's single to center field, but pinch hitter Courtney Stewart then grounded to the shortstop to end the Beaver rally.
OSU jumped ahead in the sixth after starting the inning with four consecutive hits. Parisa Plant and Michelle Chariton had back-to-back singles, and Shawna Feldt then doubled to right field to score Plant, but Chariton was thrown out at the plate. Feldt went to third on the throw home. Chmielewski and Beyster drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. After that, Kim Herman grounded to third baseman Julie Adams, who bobbled the ball and allowed Feldt to score and keep the bases loaded. Jodoin drove in the inning's final run with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Chmielewski.
The Bruins kept it going in the seventh, though. Lupe Brambila walked to lead off the inning, and Ambrosi cut the lead to two with a home run to centerfield. Draper managed to get the next three batters out on fly balls to end the game.
Draper improved to 16-5 with the victory while scattering six hits throughout the game. Amanda Freed dropped to 19-2 with the loss.
"Crystal did a great job if keeping their hitters off balance," Walker said. "We got some very timely hitting and some good breaks late in the game."
Beyster picked up the loss for OSU after giving up five home runs. The game was a close 2-0 until the fifth inning when the Bruins hit four of their five roundtrippers. Beyster had given up only six all season prior to Sundays game with the Bruins. Ambrosi, Adams, and Brambila each hit one homer, while Julie Marshall drove two out of the park.
Beyster dropped to 22-8 with the loss, while Courtney Dale remained unbeaten at 23-0. Dale gave up just five hits and never allowed a Beaver runner to get past second base.
Game Results
Game One UCLA 020 08 - 10 9 0 Oregon State 000 00 - 0 5 1
Dale and Nuveman. Beyster and Kranz. WP- Dale (23-0). LP- Beyster (22-8). 2B- Freed (UCLA). 3B- Marshall (UCLA). HR- Ambrosi, Adams, Marshall (2), Brambila (UCLA).
Game Two UCLA 001 000 2 - 3 6 3 Oregon State 000 014 x - 5 9 0
Freed and Marshall. Draper and Herman. WP- Draper (16-5). LP- Freed (19-2). 2B- S. Feldt, Rutschman (OSU). HR- Ambrosi (UCLA).
