Oregon State
Kentucky
Beavers Have a Grand Morning on Day Three of Kajikawa Classic
February 09, 2013 | Softball
Feb. 9, 2013
TEMPE, Ariz. – The morning chill in Tempe on Saturday did nothing to cool off the hot start freshman first baseman Natalie Hampton is having early in her collegiate career. After three walks to load the bases in the Beavers' first at-bat against Northwestern, Hampton strode to the plate and crushed an 0-1 pitch well over the center field fence to stake the team to a 4-0 lead with her first career grand slam. The Beavers never looked back as they won, 7-3.
Walks again played a part in the Beavers adding a run in the third. Two walks and an error loaded the bases for sophomore Dani Gilmore. She walked on five pitches to make it 5-0. After Northwestern scored two unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning, the Beavers answered in kind in the bottom half. Junior Hannah Bouska lined out sharply to third with the bases loaded, but the Wildcats' attempt to double catcher Ally Kutz off of second sailed into left field to allow Ashley Sanchez and Kutz to score to make it 7-2.
Northwestern added another unearned run in the seventh, but came no closer as senior pitcher Marina Demore closed the door. In two starts this season, she's pitched all 14 innings and has allowed no earned runs.
Hampton also went 2-for-4 in the second game of the day against Kentucky at Arizona State's Farrington Stadium. With those hits and another RBI, she's batting an even .500 with two homers and nine RBIs in the team's first five games. She has 15 total bases in 16 at-bats, good for a .938 slugging percentage.
Against Kentucky, she was just one of four Beavers with two hits. Senior outfielder Lea Cavestany, sophomore second baseman Ya Garcia and Kutz each had multi-hit games. Gilmore and shortstop Elizabeth Santana had the other two hits.
With the Beavers trailing, 3-0, in the top of the fifth, Kutz led off with a double. After two outs, the Beavers strung together four consecutive productive at-bats to tie the score at 3-3.
Kentucky added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, however, to win the matchup, 5-3.
Oregon State concludes its Kajikawa Classic trip tomorrow against San Jose State. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. PT.
