Chirichigno and Bouska Homer; Beavers Fall to Utes
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Junior CJ Chirichigno and senior Hannah Bouska both hit home runs, but the Oregon State softball team came up just short in the second game of its series against Utah, as the Utes took a 6-4 victory Saturday evening in Salt Lake City.
Chirichigno’s homer was a two-run blast in the top of the first inning that cleared the fence in straight-away center field, 235 feet from home plate. Bouska’s solo-shot went over the wall in left-center, and was the 100th hit of her career.
Junior Dani Gilmore went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run, while freshman Kylie Padilla went 2-for-3 with a double. Kori Nishitomi finished the contest with a double and a run.
The Beaver (12-20, 2-7 Pac-12) offense started the game hot, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Nishitomi led off the contest with a double down the left-field line, before Gilmore brought her home with a single through the middle. Chirichigno followed that up with a home run to give the Beavers a 3-0 lead.
The Utes (14-15, 3-7) bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the first, but Bouska’s home run brought the Beaver lead back to two at 4-2. The advantage was short-lived, however, as Utah scored a pair in the bottom of the second to level the score. The Utes would proceed to add two more in the bottom of the fifth to take a two-run victory.
The Beavers will close out their series with the Utes tomorrow with an 11 a.m. PT start on Pac-12 Networks.
