Oregon State Softball readies for Pac-12 play

The 24th ranked Oregon State softball team continued its solid non-conference play splitting its first home stand against New Mexico; and over the last weekend defeating UC Davis and splitting a double-header against CSU Bakersfield.

OSU finally returned home two weeks ago against the New Mexico Lobos in a two game series on March 14th. The Lobos took the first game 5 to 3 and the Beavs returned the favor taking the second game 5 to 4. Both games were hard fought games that saw dramatic lead changes and some solid overall defense for both teams. In the second game the Beavs were down 4 to 1 going into the sixth inning, but led by Lea Cavestany's bases loaded single OSU was able to tie the game going into the seventh inning. The Beavs held New Mexico scoreless in the seventh setting up catcher Ally Kutz's walk-off HR to win the game. Junior pitcher Amanda Najdek recorded her first win of the season with a solid three innings in which Najdek did not allow any runs.

OSU then went back on the road to California to play UC Davis and CSU Bakersfield over the weekend. The Beavs took the first game against UC Davis 1 to 0 in what was a tense pitching duel with both teams only getting four hits against each other. In the end senior pitcher Marina Demore helped OSU overcome two errors and the Beavs were able to win the game with Ally Kutz coming through again hitting home Hannah Bouska, after Bouska's triple. The win took the Beavs to 22 and 5 overall.

In a two game Monday series against CSU Bakersfield the storylines were completely different with more offensive fireworks taking place. OSU took the first game 13 to 3 and the Beavs were led by Lea Cavestany who went 4 for 4 including two home runs and five RBIs. But it was a nice team effort overall as OSU outhit the Roadrunners 16 to 7, and Demore recorded her 16th win of the season. In the second game the teams repeated their offensive output with CSU Bakersfield going up in the second 6 to 2, but Lea Cavestany's three run HR blast in the third helped the Beavs climb back into the game to close the score 6 to 5. CSU Bakersfield though put up two more runs in the fourth, and then the Beavs were able to score two runs in the fifth capitalizing on Roadrunners mistakes, but it was not enough as OSU ends up falling 10 to 7.

Oregon State goes to 23 and 6 overall and heads to Tempe, Arizona to open their Pac-12 season against the 2nd ranked Sun Devils Thursday night, first pitch scheduled for 7:00pm. The two teams will wrap up the series with a Pac-12 Networks televised game Saturday afternoon at 2:00pm.

Go Beavs!