Najdek Goes the Distance but Beavers Fall to Lopes
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Senior Amanda Najdek threw her second consecutive complete game Saturday afternoon, but the Oregon State softball team came up just short, as it fell to Grand Canyon 3-0 at Matador Diamond in Northridge, Calif.
Najdek allowed just one earned run in the contest, giving up two hits and striking out three batters.
Junior Dani Gilmore went 1-for-3, reaching base for the 11th consecutive game. Senior Hannah Bouska and freshman Amee Aarhus each went 1-for-2, while freshman Kylie Padilla went 1-for-3.
Grand Canyon (11-10) got on the board in the top of the fourth, as the Antelopes plated a pair of unearned runs on a triple, following a Beaver error. Junior Ya Garcia helped out Najdek defensively in the fifth inning, making a nice play to end the frame, as she ranged to her left to make a sliding snag on a ground ball before completing a back-hand flip to first for the out.
It looked as though the Beavers (8-12) might be able to start a rally in the sixth inning, when Aarhus reached on an infield single with none out. Oregon State could not catch a break, however, as the Grand Canyon pitcher made a difficult catch on a hard-hit line drive from Garcia, before flipping it to first to end the inning with a double-play. It again looked as though the Beavers might strike in the closing frame, as Gilmore led-off the inning with a bunt single. Oregon State got unlucky again, though, as Padilla fired another hard line-drive, this time to third, which again resulted in a game-ending double-play.
The Beavers will return to action tomorrow, when they return to Northridge to take on Grand Canyon and Cal State Northridge. First pitch for the opening game will come at 9 a.m.
