Softball Takes Early Lead But Can?t Hold Off No. 8 Arizona
Tucson, Ariz. – Oregon State jumped off to a quick 5-0 lead in the first two innings, but was unable to hold on as it fell 7-6 to No. 8 Arizona on Saturday evening at Hillenbrand Stadium.
The Beavers (26-24, 4-9 Pac-10) tallied five hits with four coming in the first two innings, while Arizona (30-15, 7-7 Pac-10) earned six of their eight in the final three innings. There were a combined seven errors in the game with Oregon State tallying four.
Senior (Camarillo, Calif.) hit a two-out shot on a 1-1 count over left center to put the Beavers quickly on the board with a 1-0 lead after one-half inning.
Oregon State lit up the scoreboard again in the second inning behind four runs on three hits and two Arizona errors. Sophomore (Chula Vista, Calif.) reached on an error on an attempted sacrifice bunt, scoring freshman (Beaverton, Ore.), who reached on an error by K’Lee Arredondo at shortstop. Junior (Tustin, Calif.) scored junior (Scottsdale, Ariz.) on her two-out RBI single before stealing second, with Ford stealing home.
Sophomore (Boring, Ore.) earned an RBI single of her own on the next at bat, scoring P. Lowe to give Oregon State the 5-0 advantage.
Arizona put a pair of runs up on the board in the bottom of the second on Stacie Chambers’ two-run home run over center field before taking a one-run lead with the score 6-5 after four full innings with the Wildcats collecting three hits, capitalizing on two Oregon State errors and a passed ball.
The Wildcats were forced to bring in their third pitcher of the game, Taryne Mowatt, in the top of the sixth after Lindsey Sisk gave up a leadoff single and a walk. Freshman (Tustin, Calif.) earned the second walk of the inning to load the bases after juniors (Tigard, Ore.) and (Stayton, Ore.) came in to pinch run for Guzy and Ewing before Hatton scored on P. Lowe’s walk to tie the score up at six all.
But Arizona quickly regained the one-run lead on Laine Roth’s two-out solo home run over right center in the bottom of the second with Oregon State unable to score in the top of the seventh with Taryne Mowatt striking out the side.
Sophomore (Eugene, Ore.) was charged with the complete-game loss, throwing a pair of strikeouts, with her record now sitting at 17-18 overall. Mowatt recorded the win after pitching 2.0 innings, improving her overall record to 18-11.
Oregon State wraps up its trip in Arizona at No. 8 Arizona on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
Oregon State 6, Arizona 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Oregon State 1 4 0 0 0 1 0 - 6 5 4
Arizona 0 2 0 4 0 1 X - 7 8 3
Win – Taryne Mowatt (18-11), Loss – (17-18)
Oregon State Notes – Senior ’s home run was her eighth of the season, 40th career; her last home run was at Oregon (Apr. 2) ... Junior ’s stolen base was her 10th of the season; Ford’s was her sixth ... Oregon State committed its second-highest number of errors in a single game with four; the highest being against Ohio State (Feb. 23) with five.
