Softball Runs the Table at DeMarini Desert Classic

Sunday, February 21

Henderson, NV

11:15 AM

Oregon State

9-1

Boise State

0-11

Boise State

Oregon State

Photo by: Dave Nishitani/Oregon State Athletics

February 22, 2016 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Athletic Communications

HENDERSON, Nev. – The Oregon State softball team completed an undefeated trip to the DeMarni Desert Classic at the Stephanie Lynn Craig Park on Sunday, as the Beavers defeated the Boise State Broncos and the San Jose State Spartans to cap the 6-0 weekend.

Oregon State, now 10-1 this season, opened the day with an extra-innings, 5-4, victory over the Boise State Broncos (0-11). The Beavers walked off in the bottom of the eighth on a one-out RBI double to right-center from sophomore first baseman Alysha Everett.

In the second game of the day, the Beavers won a five-inning matchup with the San Jose Spartans, 12-2, to clinch the perfect weekend.

Freshman right-hander Meehra Nelson (7-0) picked up both wins for Oregon State on Sunday. The Simi Valley, Calif. native entered in the sixth inning against Boise State, striking out six while holding the Broncos scoreless and hitless in three frames. Nelson tossed all five innings against San Jose State, holding the Spartans to two runs on six hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.

Senior righty Bev Miller (3-1) did not factor into the decision in her start against Boise State despite limiting the Broncos to four unearned runs on two hits and a walk with five strikeouts.

Redshirt junior designated player Christie Langlois finished 3-for-4 (.750) with a home run, a double and three RBI. Redshirt junior first baseman Natalie Hampton drove in a team-high four RBI on 3-for-6 hitting (.500), including a double. Hampton finished the weekend with 15 RBI on three home runs and .550 (11-for-20) hitting.

Sophomore shortstop McKenna Arriola went 5-for-8 (.625) on Sunday with a double and two RBI. Junior third baseman Madison Anthony was 3-for-6 (.500) with a home run, four runs scored, three RBI and two walks.

The Oregon State softball team returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 25 for the Mary Nutter Classic. The five-game tournament lasting through Saturday, Feb. 27 features games against Oklahoma, Northwestern, Loyola Marymount, Bethune-Cookman and New Mexico State.

Game One: Oregon State 5, Boise State 4 (8 inn.)
After a blank first inning, Oregon State got on the board first on an Anthony solo home run to left. The Beavers followed with another one in the third, as Jessica Garcia reached on a fielder's choice, swiped second base and moved to third on a throwing error to set up a Lopez RBI single and move the advantage to 2-0.

Oregon State added a run for the third-straight inning in the bottom of the fourth. Anthony set the table with a single up the middle and stole second before moving to third on a groundout. Mikela Manewa followed with a double to right center to plate her and give the Beavers a 3-0 lead.

After Miller had held Boise State hitless through four innings, the Broncos broke through with their only two hits of the game in the top of the fifth. Boise State's Rebekah Cervantes broke up the no-no bid with a single to left, before an error and walk loaded the bases. The Broncos second hit proved to be one of the most significant of the day, as pinch hitter Corey Hendrickson drove a grand slam to straightaway center to give Boise State a 4-3 lead.

Oregon State answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth to knot the game up at four apiece, led off by Arriola doubling to right center and advancing to third on a passed ball. On an Anthony walk four batters later, the fourth ball caromed to the backstop, and Arriola scored from third to put the game in a 4-4 deadlock.

Nelson entered in the sixth inning, striking out six of nine batters faced in three scoreless, hitless innings. The freshman's pitching kept Oregon State alive as they headed to extra innings, where the Beavers pulled out the win. With Michelle Sass on second base – per tiebreaker rule – Everett delivered a double to the right-center gap to plate her from second and lift the Beavers to a 5-4 win.

Game Two: Oregon State 12, San Jose State 2 (5 inn.)
Oregon State scored in its first opportunity to open play against San Jose State. With two outs in the top of the first, Anthony drew a walk and came all the way home on a Hampton RBI double to deep right to give the Beavers an early 1-0 lead.

The bats heated up for Oregon State in the top of the second, as the Beavers extended their advantage to five with a four-run frame. Shelby Weeks and Kayleen Shafer led off with respective singles, and Garcia followed with a walk to load the bases. Arriola drove in the first two runs on a single up the middle, and Hampton drove in two more on a single through the right side to put the Beavers up, 5-0.

The two teams traded runs in the following inning. With runners on second and third in the top of the fourth, the Beavers' lead runner scored on a fielding error, while in the home half of the frame, San Jose State got a two-run home run from Brittany Abacherli. After four, Oregon State held a 6-2 edge.

With six runs in the top of the fifth, the Beavers put their final game of the DeMarini Desert Classic out of reach. Each of the first six batters the Beavers sent to the plate to open the frame reached base safely, beginning with a walk by Garcia and singles from Arriola and Lopez to load the bases. Anthony and Hampton followed with singles, knocking in two runs and one run, respectively, before Langlois made it a 12-2 game with a three-run home run.

A double and single from San Jose State pinch hitters put runners on the corners, but Nelson induced a popout and struck out a pair of Spartans to seal the Beavers' 10th win of the season and a 6-0 trip to the DeMarini Desert Classic.

For more information on the Oregon State softball team, follow the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/OregonStateSB, by Facebook at Facebook.com/OregonStateSB or on Instagram at Instagram.com/OregonStateSB.

About OSU Athletics: The mission of the OSU Department of Athletics is to provide opportunities to young people and develop leaders through a tradition of academic and athletic achievement in a progressive, inclusive environment of mutual respect.