No. 13 Ranked Beavers Pound 13 Hits, But Fall 6-5 In Softball Civil War

Corvallis, OR – No. 16 ranked University of Oregon rallied to score three runs in the sixth inning to knock off No. 13 ranked Oregon State, 6-5, in Wednesday’s softball Civil War as presented by the Northwest Dodge Dealers.

The Beavers (34-16; 6-6 Pac-10) held a 5-3 edge when the Ducks’ (39-11; 4-8 Pac-10) offense kicked it into high gear with six hits on the way to scoring their three runs in the sixth to take the lead for good. Three straight hits, including the ones that knocked in the tying and what proved to be the game-winning run, were two-out infield singles.

Oregon State loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh after freshman reached on a two-out infield single, but the Beavers couldn’t push any runs across the plate.

The Beavers stranded 11 runners on base in the game, while the Ducks stranded seven.

OSU opened the contest in fine fashion as ’s 2-run first inning home run gave the Beavers the early lead. McGowan lined her 32^nd career blast over the left field fence – giving the senior pitcher three home runs against the Ducks on the season.

Oregon responded in the top of the second to knot the score at 2-2 after back-to-back home runs from Neena Bryant and Joanna Gail.

Oregon State countered with a pair of hits and a lead-off walk by to regain the lead at 3-2 in the bottom of the second. Galvan crossed the plate on ’s grounder to give OSU the advantage.

Back-to-back two-out doubles by sophomores and followed by a high-chopping single from Galvan extended the Beaver advantage to 5-2 in the bottom of the third.

The Ducks opened the fourth inning with three straight hits and pushed one run across the plate, but McGowan worked her way out of the jam to preserve a 5-3 OSU lead.

Longfellow matched the Oregon State school record for hits when she belted a first inning double, tying Jodi Chmielewski (1996-99) with 225 career hits.

Galvan finished with a 2-for-2 clip from the plate and a pair of walks, while and McGowan had two hits each.

Oregon State hits the road for a Friday 1 p.m. start at No. 11 Washington. The Beavers will then fly to Los Angeles for a 2 p.m. Saturday game against No. 12 UCLA.

GAME RESULTS:

No. 16 Oregon – 020 103 0 – 6 15 1

No. 13 Oregon State – 212 000 0 – 5 13 0
McGowan, McElroy (7) and Ewing (OSU), Rice and Morris (ORE). Win – Rice (21-9). Loss – McGowan (20-9). HR – McGowan (OSU), Bryant (ORE), Gail (ORE). 2B – Longfellow (OSU), Ewing (OSU), Young (OSU), Bryant, 2 (ORE).