The Oregon St. softball team suffered their first setback of the season Sunday in Tempe, losing to the Nebraska Cornhuskers 4-1. It was the first loss in the circle for Marina Demore, now 3-1 for the season.

Nebraska scored twice in the bottom of the first inning, and after Lea Cavestany drove in Nikki Chandler for Oregon St.'s only run in the top of the third inning, added another pair of insurance runs in the fourth inning.

Chandler and Cavestany's hits were the only ones of the game for the Beavers, who couldn't do anything with the 5 walks they drew.

Oregon St. (4-1) now has a week and a half off, before returning to action Thursday, Feb. 24, when they take on Florida St. That will be the first of 5 games in 4 days in the Cathedral City Classic in Palm Springs, California. The Beavers will also meet Georgia, Northwestern, Long Island University, and Fresno St. while in Palm Springs.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com

It wasn't as wasn't as easy as their first two wins in the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., but the Oregon St. softball team stayed unbeaten Saturday, claiming a pair of close wins to get off to a 4-0 start to the season.

Mary Caire Brenner drove in the game winning run in the top of the seventh inning to give the Beavers a 3-2 win over North Texas, and Marina Demore closed out the Mean Green in the bottom of the inning to claim her second win of the season.

Bradley jumped Oregon St. starter Paige Hall for four runs in the first inning of the Beavers' second game of the day, but Oregon St. answered with a six run third inning to take a lead they wouldn't surrender.

The Beavers added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, and held off the Bulldogs for an 8-6 win.

Oregon St. will conclude their five game weekend in Tempe on Sunday, against Nebraska.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com

The Beavers battled back from the consolation side of the Ann Arbor Regional bracket, but couldn't get bast Michigan in the Championship Game. The Beavers lost 7-0 to the Wolverines.

Last year's team celebrates a win. They advanced all the way to the Women's College World Series. (OSUBeavers.com)

The Beavers lost the first game of the regional 0-8 to Louisville, placing the Beavers in the consolation bracket. Following the trail that several Oregon State teams have traveled before, they battled their way through the consolation bracket, avoiding elimination with a 6-1 win over Eastern Michigan, as well as a 11-4 win over Louisville. Both of those games were yesterday.

Oregon State would have needed to beat Michigan twice to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals, but the Wolverines proved too tough in Game 1.

The Beavers lose five seniors; Natalie Johnson, Mia Longfellow, Sherina Galvan, Brianne McGowan, and Ta'Yyana McElroy. That's a groupe of five key players that will be hard to replace.

Best of luck to those seniors in their futures.

Go Beavers!

--JB--

OSU Senior pitcher Brianne McGowan became Oregon State's all time leader in victories (91) and shutouts (33) as she lead the Beavers over Cal for the second straight game.

The Beavers got things started in the third inning when they manufactured three runs. Senior Mia Longfellow scored when Cal's left fielder dropped a towering fly ball of the bat of Cambrina Miranda, and scored their next two on a double by Sherina Galvan.

In the bottom of the sixth, Oregon State scored three more on a three-run blast by Lisa Hill.

McGowan broke the all-time wins record previously held by by All-American Tarrah Beyster (1997-00), and the all time shutout record, previously held by Joan Harvey (1982-85).

The Beavers play the Ducks next, at Howe field in Eugene. First pitch is scheduled for Friday at 3:00 p.m. This three game series will be the deciding factor in the 2006-2007 Civil War Series, as I will touch on in a post later today.

Go Beavers!

--JB--

Sophomore catcher Stefanie Ewing scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth to lift the Beavers over the Bears on Saturday.

Prior to sealing home, Ewing got her second hit of the day with a two-out single though the left side. She was then on second, and sophomore DeAnn Young hit a single to right field, moving Stefanie to third.

Pitcher Brianne McGowan, now 16-6 on the season, got her 91st career victory at Oregon State, tying the all time record set by Tarrah Beyster from 1997-2000.

The Beavers and Bears will play again in about an hour, at 1:00.

Go Beavers!

The Softball and Baseball teams both went down in similar fashion on Friday. For the softball team, they suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of Stanford.

The #17 ranked Beavers (now 26-11; 0-1 Pac-10) and the #14 ranked Cardinal (25-6; 1-0 Pac-10) were tied 1-1 heading into the seventh and final inning. Anna Beardman reached first base on a fielder's choice, and she advanced to second on Rinehart's sacrifice bunt.

With two outs, Alissa Haber sent a line drive into  right/center, scoring Beardman from second. That gave Stanford the 2-1 lead, and Oregon State couldn't put a run across in the bottom of the seventh to secure the game.

The loss broke Oregon State's six game win streak.

"It was a hard-fought game," said OSU head coach Kirk Walker after the game. "We didn't get the breaks and they took advantage of some opportunities."

Oregon State hosts California on Saturday in a re-match of last season's NCAA Super Regional. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m.

Go Beavers!

--JB--

OSU is in the Elimanation game of the Women's College World Series against Arizona State- they're playing right now on ESPN.

Check out the game- Loser goes home.

Go Beavers!