No. 17 Softball Drops Extra Inning Civil War Outing To No. 10 Oregon, 4-3

Eugene, OR – Sophomore catcher belted a 2-run home run to send the game to extra innings, but No. 10 ranked Oregon responded and the Ducks earned a 4-3 8-inning victory over No. 17 Oregon State in Saturday’s softball Civil War as presented by the Northwest Dodge Dealers.

Oregon’s (37-5; 3-2 Pac-10) victory broke Oregon State’s (29-12; 3-2 Pac-10) eight-game winning streak in the series.

For the second straight day, Oregon jumped out to the early advantage. The Ducks took a 1-0 lead in the opening inning after Jennifer Salling’s double down the right field line plated Suzie Barnes.

The Ducks extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth after scoring a pair of unearned runs on a double to left-center field from Neena Barnes.

Oregon pitcher Melissa Rice was throwing a perfect game heading into the top of the seventh inning, allowing just three balls to get outside of the infield.

Beaver senior shortstop led-off the seventh with a walk and then fellow senior broke-up Rice’s no-hitter when she reached on a bunt single.

UO ace Alicia Cook entered the game and picked up the first out, but the Beavers got on the scoreboard with out number-two when hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield that plated Longfellow.

Ewing stepped to the plate and clocked her third home run of the season with a 2-run shot over the center field fence, knotting the score at 3-3.

McGowan replaced in the circle in the bottom of the seventh and fended off an attempted Ducks rally to send the game to extra innings, but Oregon closed things out in the bottom of the eighth when Sari-Jane Jenkins hit a two-out infield single off the glove of Beaver first baseman . Longfellow retrieved the ball but her throw to the plate was ruled not in time by the umpire as Amie Morris slid in safe with the game-winner.

McElroy threw well in six innings of work – her first action since Mar. 17 – striking out six and allowing only one earned run. McGowan (18-7) suffered her first ever loss in Civil War pitching appearances.

Oregon State returns home for a non-conference double-header against Portland State on Tuesday. First-pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the OSU Softball Complex.

GAME RESULTS:

No. 17 Oregon State – 000 000 30 – 3 2 1
No. 10 Oregon – 100 020 01 – 4 7 0

McElroy, McGowan (7) and Ewing (OSU), Rice, Cook (7) and Morris (ORE). Win – Cook (18-1). Loss – McGowan (18-7). HR – Ewing (OSU). 2B – Salling (ORE), Gail (ORE), Bryant (ORE).