Beavers Take Down Cardinal in Rain-Shortened Game
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State softball team (22-9, 3-3) completed the series sweep Monday afternoon against the Stanford Cardinal (14-17, 0-3). The game was shortened due to rain with the Beavers taking the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning at 5-3 just before the umpires decided that play could not continue.
The Beavers struck first, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. Mikela Manewa started the game with a walk, followed by a sacrifice bunt from McKenna Arriola and a groundout from Dani Gilmore, advancing Manewa to third. After a Natalie Hampton walk Sammi Noland doubled into right field, scoring Manewa and giving the Beavers a 1-0 lead.
Stanford put a rally together in the top of the second, stringing together three straight hits, followed by a sacrifice fly and capped by a double, plating three runs and giving the Cardinal a 3-1 lead.
The Beavers offense broke through in the fifth inning, scoring four runs to take a 5-3 lead. Arriola walked, followed by a single from Gilmore. Hampton singled into center field, scoring Arriola. Noland singled through the left side, scoring Gilmore and tying the game at 3-3. Hannah Akamine advanced Noland and pinch runner Ammee Aarhus with a sacrifice bunt which brought CJ Chirichigno to the plate. Chirichigno doubled into right field, scoring both runners and giving the Beavers a 5-3 lead. As the rain escalated and the field started to turn for the worse, the umpires decided called the game after that play.
Noland went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored while Chirichigno was 1-for-2 with two RBI and a walk.
Taylor Cotton had her second start of the season, going three innings, allowing three runs and scattering six hits in the no decision. Bev Miller earned the win in relief, throwing two hitless innings while she improved her record to 14-6 on the year.
Oregon State will return to the field Friday, March 7 when they travel south to Berkeley, California to face the #12 California for a weekend series.
