Manewa Homers, But Beavers Drop Series Finale
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Mikela Manewa hit her fifth home run of the season Sunday afternoon, but the Oregon State softball team (23-17, 4-11) dropped the series finale to the Utah Utes (29-14, 7-8) by a final score of 5-2.
The Utes scored in the top of the first, putting four hits together to take a 2-0 lead.
Manewa got a run back in the bottom of the first, driving a 1-0 pitch over the left field fence for her fifth home run of the season.
Utah scored a third run in the top of the second, pushing the score to 3-1.
Bev Miller and Katie Donovan of the Utes held the offenses in check during the middle innings, with only two combined hits and four base runners from the third inning through the fifth.
The Utes pushed the score to 4-1 in the sixth inning, putting together two hits, but stranding two runners.
McKenna Arriola walked to start the sixth inning, followed by a Kori Nishitomi single. Manewa dropped a sacrifice bunt, advancing both runners. Dani Gilmore followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Arriola.
Utah added a final run in the seventh inning, pushing the final score to 5-2.
Miller saw her record fall to 15-12 on the year. The junior went 6.1 innings for the Beavers, striking out seven while allowing four earned runs.
Manewa finished 1-for-2, increasing her season average to .345, second on the team. Gilmore’s RBI was her 31st on the season, behind only Sammi Noland on the team.
The Beavers will return to the field next week when they travel to Tempe, Ariz. to face the No. 19 Arizona State Sun Devils.
