Brianne McGowan Breaks Strikeouts Record As No. 16 Softball Dominates No. 14 UCLA, 7-0
The seven-run margin of victory for the Beavers over the Bruins was the largest for OSU in the 80-game series history. The win was the ninth in the series for
UCLA (26-11; 2-4 Pac-10) opened the game with back-to-back hits but McGowan (20-7) calmly worked her way out of the inning unscathed and the Beaver offense took over from there.
Oregon State (32-12; 4-2 Pac-10) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after scored an unearned run on ’s bases loaded grounder to third.
OSU then extended its advantage to 3-0 in the bottom of the second after back-to-back singles from and sparked the offense and both players would eventually score.
’s two-out single up-the-middle added another run in the third when – who had singled – came across to score from second base.
Chisholm’s 2-RBI double to the left-center field gap highlighted a three-run fourth inning that extended the Beaver advantage to 7-0.
McGowan maintained her dominance in the circle throughout the game and the Beaver defense made several outstanding plays to back her up. had a diving grab in left field and had a pair of line-drive snags at shortstop.
The victory was the 20th of the season for McGowan, allowing her to become just the second player in OSU history to amass three 20-win seasons during her career (Tarrah Beyster also recorded three 20-win seasons). The 6-2 hurler tallied four strikeouts to up her career total to program-best 812, breaking Crystal Draper’s (1999-02) mark of 809.
Johnson and Galvan picked up a pair of hits each for the Beavers – winners of 17 of their last 20 games.
OSU returns to the field on Saturday with a 1 p.m. game against No. 12 ranked
GAME RESULTS:
No. 14 UCLA – 000 000 0 – 0 4 2
No. 16
McGowan and
