OSU Comes Up Short in Rain Soaked Day at #2 Ducks
EUGENE, Ore. – After being rained out on Saturday, the Oregon State softball team (19-9, 0-3 Pac-12) returned to the field for a doubleheader against the No. 2 University of Oregon softball team (23-3, 3-0 Pac-12). The first game was a slugfest, with each team scoring four runs in the first inning on the way to a 23-12 final score, the Ducks taking the game in five innings. The two teams completed the series in the afternoon, with the Ducks taking the game 9-0.
The games completed softball portion of the 2015 Civil War series, presented by PacificSource Health Plans, The Oregon 529 College Savings Network, McDonalds, Spirit Mountain Casino and Your Local Ford Stores. The games this weekend were also part of the Northwest Rivalry Series presented by Alaska.
Oregon State got on the board in the top of the first, scoring four quick runs. Mikela Manewa earned a leadoff walk and then advanced to second on groundout from McKenna Arriola. Manewa stole third with Dan Gilmore at the plate and scored when the Oregon third baseman couldn’t handle the throw from the catcher. Gilmore put another run on the board with the next pitch, hitting a home run into the bleachers in left field. CJ Chirichigno kept the inning going with a 2-out double and Sammi Noland capped the inning, taking the first pitch after an Oregon pitching change and hitting over the fence in center.
The Ducks answered back in the bottom of the first tying the game at 4-4, highlighted by a three-run home run.
The Beavers bats kept going in the second inning, starting with a leadoff double from Lovie Lopez. Ya Garcia followed that with a single, with Lopez scoring on an error during the play. Manewa earned her second walk in as many innings, prompting a pitching change for Oregon. Hannah Akamine singled later in the inning, scoring Garcia while the third run of the inning game when Arriola scored on a dropped fly ball in the outfield.
The score remained 7-4 into the bottom of the third inning when the Ducks put a seven run rally together. Taking an 11-7 lead on six hits, including a two-run homer.
Oregon State answered in the top of the fourth inning, with a five-run 2-out rally. Gilmore started things by reaching base on an error, followed by a single from Akamine. Chirichigno loaded the bases after getting hit by a pitch. Noland pushed a run home, also getting hit by a pitch. Natalie Hampton came to the plate, in just her second start of the 2015 season, and hit a home run over the center field fence to give the Beavers a 12-11 lead. The home run from Hampton cleared the TV camera in center and gave the redshirt sophomore her first home run since her impressive 2013 freshman season.
The slugfest of a game continued in the bottom of the fourth, as the Ducks sent 17 batters to the plate, scoring 12 runs in the inning and taking a 23-12 lead. The Beaver offense was held off the scoreboard for just the second time in the game, ending the 3:18 minute game.
The teams scored a combined 35 runs in the five innings, breaking the record for combined score in a Civil War game. The previous record being 29 runs, set back in 1975 when UO took 19-10 decision.
Noland finished the game 1-for-3, driving in three runs and scoring a pair herself. Akamine went 2-for-3 in the game, scoring a run and driving in another. Hampton went 1-for-3 but her lone hit being the then go-ahead grand slam.
The teams regrouped and took a break before the second game of the double header. The break allowed the field crew to work on the infield after consistent rain through the morning and into the afternoon.
The Ducks took an early 4-0 lead, with the damage coming through a three-run home run and an RBI double. Oregon added another run in the second inning before putting up three runs in the third inning. They added an insurance run in the fourth inning but wouldn’t need it as they took the game 9-0 in five innings and winning the Civil War Series.
Gilmore and Noland both went 1-for-2 in the game. Akamine had her 10 game streak of reaching base snapped, but has still reached base in 24 of 28 games.
The Beavers will return to the field Saturday, March 21 at 3:30 p.m. when they hold their home opener against the Stanford Cardinal.
