OSU Softball Takes No. 1 Washington Down To The Wire, Falls In 10th
March 19, 2000
Box Score
It was another marathon extra-inning game for the No. 12 Oregon State softball team, but this time it didn't work out in OSU's favor on Sunday morning in the semifinals of the Kia Klassic against the Washington Huskies.
Oregon State (22-6-1) trailed Washington (30-1) 2-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh, but managed some late inning heroics for the second straight game to tie it at two apiece and force extra innings for the third time in the tournament.
With Jenni Jodoin and pinch runner Michelle Notaro on base for OSU in the seventh, freshman Steph Adams continued her solid play of late with a two-out double to score both runners and tie the game at two.
"The team did a great job of staying in the ballgame," said OSU coach Kirk Walker. "They did a nice job to tie it in the seventh."
After trading scoreless innings with the Huskies in the eighth and ninth, the Beavers' good fortunes did not hold out in the 10th, as Washington shortstop Jaime Clark hit her 11th homerun of the year to knock in runners on first and second for the final margin of 5-2. Oregon State came up dry in the bottom half of the 10th.
"It was a great game, we played well. One swing just went over the fence," Walker said, in reference to Clark's game-winner.
Beaver pitcher Crystal Draper suffered just her first loss of the year, dropping her record to 9-1. Draper struck out five and scattered seven hits on the day.
Centerfielder Brooke Rutschman went 2-for-4 on the day, and Jodoin singled and scored a run for OSU.
The Beavers will travel to Hawaii on Monday for the Bank of Hawaii Invitational. The tournament will run from Mar. 23-26, and OSU opens against the Tokyo Women's College of P.E. on Thursday.
Game Results
Washington 010 001 000 3 - 5 8 1
Oregon State 000 000 200 0 - 2 5 1
Draper, Beyster (10) and Prochaska. Graves, Spediacci (9) and Giordano. WP- Spediacci (15-1). LP- Draper (9-1). 2B- Leutzinger (UW), Helgeland (UW), Adams (OSU). HR- Clark (UW), Graves (UW).
