Softball Rundown: No. 15 UCLA Visits to Close Regular Season
May 9, 2013
This Weekend: Oregon State concludes the 2013 regular season with a three-game series against Pac-12 opponent UCLA. The Beavers host the Bruins Thursday and Friday at 3:00 p.m., while Saturday’s series and regular season finale begins at 1:00 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks. The NCAA Selection Show will take place Sunday at 7:00 p.m. PDT.
Tracking the Beavs: Live stats will be available online via Gametracker at osubeavers.com.
Social Media: Follow the softball team @OregonStateSB on Twitter for updated information including game updates, photos and behind-the-scenes information. “Like” facebook.com/OregonStateSB to stay in touch with all OSU stories and other great news and notes. The team also has a new Instagram page, @OregonStateSB. Check the page for photos of the OSU softball team.
Last Time Out: First baseman Natalie Hampton hit her 14th homer of the season at then-No. 5 Oregon last weekend, moving her into a tie for third place on the school’s single season list. The school record is 16. Hampton also has 47 RBIs on the season, one shy of tying the school record in that category.
Weekend Television Information: All three games this weekend are being aired on the Pac-12 Networks. JB Long will provide play-by-play on Thursday and Friday while Jim Watson will take over for Saturday’s telecast. Ann Schatz will do the color commentary for all three games.
Senior Weekend: The Beavers have a rather large senior class in 2013 as the team will say goodbye to nine seniors at the conclusion of the season. The nine seniors will be honored prior to Saturday’s game against UCLA. As a class, the nine Beavers will likely end their collegiate softball careers with a second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. The field will be announced Sunday evening.
Climbing the Charts: Freshman first baseman Vanessa Iapala and Kelly Petersen who were tied at 46. The school record is 48, set in 2003 by Brianne McGowan in 2007. Hampton got that RBI on her 14th home run, tying her for 3rd on the all-time list. The school record is 16. Lea Cavestany is now ninth on the RBIs list with 42, surpassing Elizabeth Santana’s 41 from last season. Santana’s recent base on balls binge has her in 10th place on the school’s single season list with 32 free passes this year.
Team Home Run Total: Hampton’s homer Friday at Oregon means the Beavers have hit 49 home runs as a team this season, tying for number four in school history. The 2007 team also hit 49. The school record of 61 home runs was set by the 2003 team.
Postseason Prognostications: Only one Pac-12 team in the last 16 seasons (Arizona State - 2004) has not advanced to an NCAA Regional after completing its regular season schedule with a winning record. No conference team that has finished more than seven games over .500 has ever been denied a postseason berth. The Beavers are guaranteed to finish the 2013 regular season no worse than nine games over .500.
