No. 7 Softball Earns Berth In NCAA Regional Championship Game With A Come-From-Behind 5-3 Victory Over No. 19 Baylor

Corvallis, OR – The No. 7 ranked Oregon State softball team advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament title game by rallying for 5-3 come-from-behind victory over No. 19 ranked Baylor University on Saturday in Corvallis. The Beavers have reached the Regional championship game in three straight seasons, but this is the first time OSU will play on the final day without a loss.

Baylor (37-21) used back-to-back first inning home runs from Chelsi Lake and Ashley Monceaux to take a quick 3-0 advantage, but Beaver pitcher settled in and didn’t allow another Baylor hit until a fifth inning single.

The Beavers (40-13) got one run back in the top of the third as roped her 14^th double of the season to the center field fence and came across to score.

Senior catcher came up clutch for the Beavers by belting a two-out, 2-run, sixth inning home run over the right field fence to knot the score at 3-3.

"One of the characteristics that this team has been consistent with is not letting the first part of the game effect the finish of the game,” said OSU head coach . “It's a hard thing to do, especially in the Regional Tournament. It was kind of tough, but this team does a great job of adjusting and going after it and building on every at bat.”

A lead-off seventh inning single from senior and a one-out double down the left field line by freshman set the stage for senior pinch hitter to step to the plate with runners in scoring position.

Lochelt hit a sharp grounder that the Baylor third baseman mishandled which allowed freshman to score what proved to be the game-winner.

"I was feeling really good all day today and I was seeing the ball well (in batting practice),” said Lochelt. “I was nervous, but I just kind of felt that I was going to see it and hit it. I wanted to give it my all because it is my senior year - I wanted to put us in a position for us to win."

Oregon State added an insurance run when Longfellow reached on a bases loaded fielder’s choice and the play at the plate was too late.

In the bottom of the seventh Baylor brought the winning run to the plate, but McGowan forced Lake to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

OSU improved to 2-0 on the season against Baylor and reached the 40-win plateau for the seventh time in the past eight years.

McGowan (26-6) had seven strikeouts in the complete game effort, while Miranda went 2-for-3 from the plate.

Monceaux finished with two hits for Baylor.

Sunday’s championship game will start at 1 p.m. with Oregon State in a re-match with Baylor, who eliminated Portland State (3-2) in Saturday's night-cap. The Beavers hold a 2-0 record on the season against the Bears. OSU needs one victory, while Baylor must win twice to advance to the NCAA Super Regional.

GAME RESULTS:

No. 7 Oregon State – 001 002 2 – 5 6 0

No. 19 Baylor – 300 000 0 – 3 5 2
McGowan and Allen (OSU), Ferguson and Lake (BU). Win – McGowan (26-6). Loss – Ferguson (19-14). HR – Lynam (BU), Lake (BU), Allen (OSU).