Corvallis, OR – Oregon State sophomore hit a home run in both games as the No. 8 ranked Beaver softball team swept rival University of Oregon, 4-3 and 2-1, in Wednesday’s Civil War double-header as presented by the Northwest Dodge Dealers.
With the sweep, the Beavers (35-7; 7-4 Pac-10) secured the Northwest Dodge Dealers Civil War Series Cup for Oregon State with OSU earning a 12-5 advantage in the cup final standings.
The back-and-forth first game saw Oregon (19-18; 1-8 Pac-10) jump out to an early 1-0 lead on Beth Boskovich’s RBI single in the opening inning. The Beavers answered in the bottom half of the frame as Miranda continued her hot-hitting by belting her 12th home run of the season – and first of two on the day – with a lead-off shot to straight-away center field. Oregon State reeled off three straight hits in the frame and took a 2-1 lead when belted a sacrifice fly that scored .
The Ducks knotted the score in the top of the fourth behind Joanna Gail’s home run to left field and took the lead back at 3-2 after back-to-back Beaver fielding errors.
Oregon State answered in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score at 3-3 behind ’s two-out RBI double off of the right field fence.
After getting out of a jam by throwing a Duck runner out at the plate to end the top of the seventh, Oregon State used a double by freshman to get things going in their half of the final inning. Allen picked up her second RBI of the game when she sliced the game-winner into shallow left-center field and Young came around to score.
Six OSU players finished with hits in the contest, with Allen’s 2-for-3 effort leading the way.
McGowan struck out eight in the complete game en route to her 22nd victory of the season.
In the nightcap, Oregon jumped in front by a 1-0 edge after Suzie Barnes’ RBI single in the third inning. Beaver right fielder made a diving catch to get OSU out of the frame as the Ducks stranded a pair of runners on base.
It took just one swing for the Beavers to tie things up in the bottom of the third as freshman second baseman belted her 2nd home run of the season with a towering shot over the left field fence.
The hit was the first allowed by Oregon pitcher Alicia Cook in the contest, and the only other OSU hit came in the bottom of the sixth when Miranda belted what proved to be the game-winner with a solo shot over the left field fence. The home run marked the fifth in as many games for the Camarillo, CA sophomore and upped her season total to 13 – tied for second place on the OSU single season charts.
Miranda has hit six home runs in 11 Pac-10 games on the season and leads OSU with a .361 batting average in conference games.
Junior pitcher (13-3) scattered five hits and recorded five strikeouts in the complete game victory.
Oregon State improved to 15-0 on the season when hitting two or more home runs in a single game.
The Beavers – currently second place in the Pac-10 race – return to action on Friday when they host No. 7 ranked University of California at 3 p.m. The game will be tape-delayed broadcast nationally on Fox Sports Net, airing Sunday at 9 a.m.
GAME RESULTS:
Game 1
Oregon – 100 200 0 – 3 8 1
No. 8 Oregon State – 200 100 1 – 4 7 2
McGowan and Allen (OSU), Rice, Orange (2), Harris (7) and Shlee (UO). Win – McGowan (22-4). Loss – Orange (2-3). HR – Miranda (OSU), Gail (UO). 2B – Alo (OSU), Allen (OSU), Young (OSU), Hudson (UO).
Game 2
Oregon – 001 000 0 – 1 5 0
No. 8 Oregon State – 001 001 x – 2 2 0
McElroy and Allen (OSU), Cook and Morris (UO). Win – McElroy (13-3). Loss – Cook (3-6). HR – Lowe (OSU), Miranda (OSU).
