OSU Downs Rutgers 8-3, Sweeps Weekend
Fresno, Calif. – The Oregon State softball team (16-5) defeated the Rutgers Scarlett Knights (4-5) Sunday morning. The OSU offense continued to roll as it had all weekend, putting together eight runs and giving the Beavers a 5-0 record on the weekend for the sweep.
The Knights struck first, putting a run on the board in the top of the first, when a runner advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on the next play with a single to the outfield.
The Beavers tied the score up quickly in the bottom of the first, with McKenna Arriola earning a one out walk and coming around to score when the throw to second to stop Dani Gilmore from stealing the base sailed into the outfield.
Mikela Manewa score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the third, leading the inning off with a single and eventually coming in to score when Hannah Akamine singled into left field.
The Beavers added another three runs in the bottom of the fourth. After CJ Chirichigno and Ya Garcia reached base through walks Manewa tripled to right field, scoring both runners. Manewa scored during the next play when Rutgers was called for an illegal pitch.
Akamine walked to start the fifth inning. It was the third time in the game she reached base, finishing the day 1-for-1, she was also hit by a pitch and walked during her other plate appearances. Sammi Noland gave the Beavers a 7-1 lead when she hit a two-run blast to left field.
The Beavers added their final run of the day during the sixth inning when Noland connected on a 2-2 pitch with two outs to single to right center and bring in Gilmore who had previously doubled.
Rutgers put together a small rally in the seventh inning, scoring two runs on three hits, but Bev Miller was able to limit the damage and get out of the inning, giving the Beavers the 8-3 victory.
Miller improved to 9-4 on the year while throwing her 12th complete game of the season. She scattered seven hits, allowing one earned run. Miller struck out four and walked one.
Akamine paced the Beavers with a .571 batting average on the weekend, with a pair of doubles and a home run while knocking in nine run. Chirichigno and Gilmore also hit over .500 on the weekend, with averages of .556 and .526 respectively.
As a team the Beavers scored 64 runs over the five games. They had 26 extra bases hits while hitting .418 and slugging .719.
The Beavers will travel west next week to the University of Hawaii hosted Spring Flight Tournament. OSU will take to the field March 4 with games against Longwood University and the University of Hawaii.
