OSU Bests Longwood 7-3
HONOLULU, Hawaii – The Oregon State softball team (17-5) defeated Longwood University (2-9) Wednesday evening in the first game of the Outrigger Hawaii Spring Fling Tournament. The Beavers scored four runs in the top of the seventh on the way to a 7-3 victory. The win extends the OSU winning streak to seven games. The second game of the scheduled doubleheader against host Hawaii was rained out and will not be made up.
The Beavers got on the scoreboard quickly against Longwood, scoring a run thanks to three straight 2-out hits. Dani Gilmore doubled to left and advanced to third on a Sammi Noland single, before eventually coming in to score on a CJ Chirichigno single.
Longwood got on the board in the bottom of the second, scoring three runs on four hits and one error. The Beavers were able to strand the bases loaded, limiting the damage and sending the game to the third inning with the score 3-1.
OSU got a run back in the top of the fourth, starting with a single through the left side by Kori Nishitomi. Lovie Lopez followed that with a double to left, advancing Nishitomi to third. After a walk to Ya Garcia, Nishitomi came into score on a fielder’s choice.
The Beavers added another run and tied the score in the top of the fifth. Gilmore started the inning with another double and advanced to third on the next play. Chirichigno came through with the tying RBI, singling into left field and scoring Gilmore.
Taylor Cotton came in to relieve Rainey Dyreson in the bottom of the sixth. Cotton entered with two runners on and worked out of the jam, stranding both runners. Dyreson had five innings worked, plus two batters in the sixth inning, she scattered seven hits while allowing only two earned runs. She held the Lancers off the scoreboard after the second inning and only allowed three base runners in that stretch.
The Beavers got the bats going in the 7th inning, with the first four batters all recording hits. McKenna Arriola started the inning with a single to left and then advanced to second when Gilmore singled up the middle. Noland knocked in Arriola with a single up the middle, giving OSU the 4-3 lead and putting runners on second and third after a Longwood throwing error. Chirichigno singled in Gilmore with Noland scoring on a Longwood error. Chirichigno advanced to third on a Nishitomi double and eventually scored on the next play. By the end of the inning the Beavers held a 7-3 lead and Longwood only had three outs to work with.
Cotton returned to the circle and worked and put down the Lancers in order, striking out the final two batters and securing the victory for OSU.
Gilmore went 3-for-3 with two doubles and a walk while scoring three runs. Chirichigno also recorded three hits, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI. Nishitomi went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Cotton earned her first win of the season with the two perfect innings.
The Beavers started a game against the University of Hawaii, but the game was called due to rain in the middle of the top of the third inning with the Beavers holding a 3-0 lead. The game has been cancelled and will not be completed at a later date.
Oregon State will return to the field tomorrow afternoon, Thursday, March 5 at 3 p.m. PT for the first of two games against East Carolina this week.
