No. 8 Softball Stops No. 7 California, 4-2; Miranda Hits 6th Straight Home Run

Corvallis, OR – Oregon State sophomore led-off the game with a home run and junior pitcher recorded five strikeouts in four innings of work as the No. 8 ranked Beavers knocked off No. 7 ranked University of California by a 4-2 margin in Friday’s Pacific-10 Conference softball game.

Miranda belted her 14^th home run of the season – extending her home run hitting streak to six straight games – with a lead-off shot over the left field fence to give the Beavers (36-7; 8-4 Pac-10) the lead from the start.

The Bears (38-9; 6-6 Pac-10) rallied back in the top of the third inning after scoring two runs on four consecutive two-out hits. Alex Sutton’s double to the right-center field gap started the rally and her aggressive base-running on Haley Woods’ single to left field knotted the score. Woods gave Cal the 2-1 advantage when she scored on Emily Friedman’s single to right field.

In the bottom of the third, Miranda became Oregon State’s all-time single season runs scored leader when she tied the score after an infield single from freshman . Miranda has 46 runs scored on the season, breaking ’s mark of 45, set in 2004.

Oregon State regained the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth when junior centerfielder scored on a wild pitch. Johnson was on third when Cal hurler Kristina Thorson (26-7) attempted to intentionally walk OSU freshman , but Thorson’s first pitch sailed past the reach of Woods behind the plate and Johnson dove home.

McElroy (14-3), who had entered the game in relief during the fourth inning, dominated the Cal batters. The Los Angeles native allowed just one hit and struck out five of the 13 batters she faced en route to the victory.

The Beavers cushioned their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when ’s sacrifice fly allowed to come across the plate.

Young finished with a perfect 2-for-2 effort and an RBI, while Miranda was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Sutton went 2-for-3 for Cal.

Winners of seven straight, Oregon State returns to action on Saturday against No. 6 ranked Stanford. First-pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the OSU Softball Complex.

GAME RESULTS:

No. 7 California – 002 000 0 – 2 7 1
No. 8 Oregon State – 101 011 x – 4 7 0

McGowan, McElroy (4) and Allen (OSU), Frankiewicz, Thorson (3), Frankiewicz (6) and Woods (CAL). Win – McElroy (14-3). Loss – Thorson (26-7). HR – Miranda (OSU). 2B – Sutton (CAL).