No. 23 OSU Falls in Pac-12 Opener at Utah, 7-5

Saturday, March 19

Salt Lake City, UT

12:00 PM

Oregon State

20-5-1, 0

Utah

19-9, 0

Oregon State

Utah

Photo by: Dave Nishitani/Oregon State Athletics

March 19, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

By: Athletic Communications

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The 23rd-ranked Oregon State softball team received a two-home run, four-RBI performance from redshirt junior designated player Natalie Hampton, but the Beavers left 11 on base and committed an untimely error in a 7-5 setback to the Utah Utes on Saturday at Dumke Family Softball Stadium.

With Oregon State (20-5-1, 0-1 Pac-12) leading 3-0, Utah (19-9, 1-0 Pac-12) drove in its first run of the game on a one-out Kristen Stewart RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Utes' Maddie Roth continued action in the frame with a lineout for the second out, and the Beavers looked to be out of the inning on a would-be 6-4 fielder's choice at second base. However, the throw was dropped to extend the inning, and the miscue proved costly for OSU. Utah's Hailey Hilburn followed with a three-run home run, and the Beavers trailed, 4-3, after four innings of play.

Utah followed with three more runs in its only other scoring inning, the bottom of the fifth, The Utes loaded the bases with two outs, and each of the next two batters combined to bring all three runners home on the two following plays. Roth was hit by pitch to force in the first, while the Utes' Ally Dickman doubled to right center to knock in two more, capping their scoring at a total of seven runs to put the game out of reach.

“It was a tough loss – we let that one get away from us,” Oregon State head coach Laura Berg said. “We left a lot of runners on base, and when you play in this conference, you can't do that. Our freshmen were a bit wide-eyed today, so it was good to get our first Pac-12 game under our belt.”

Despite exiting the game at a 4-4 tie, OSU senior right-hander Bev Miller (8-3) was on the hook for the loss as she was responsible for the lead runner in the fifth inning. Her final line included four innings pitched, four hits, five runs (two earned), two walks and four strikeouts. Freshman righty Meehra Nelson relieved her in the fifth, and allowed two runs on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts over the final three innings.

Katie Donovan (10-6) was the winning pitcher for Utah, pitching all seven innings and allowing the Beavers five runs on eight hits and five walks with nine strikeouts.

Oregon State wasted no time in scoring its first runs of Pac-12 play, as Hampton's seventh home run of the season gave the Beavers their early 3-0 lead in the top of the first. The Antelope, Calif. drove in Lovie Lopez and Mikela Manewa, who reached on a single up the middle and a Texas leaguer, respectively. However, the Beavers also left bases loaded in the frame, the first three of the 11 left on base for the day.

All five of the Beavers' runs for the day ended up on home runs, as redshirt junior third baseman Christie Langlois added a run on a leadoff home run in the top of the fifth inning and Hampton slugged her second home run of the game and eighth of the season in the top of the sixth.

Hampton finished the game 3-for-4. Langlois also recorded a multiple-hit performance, going 2-for-3. Freshman right fielder Shelby Weeks reached base safely twice, drawing a pair of walks.

Oregon State had a final opportunity to even the score or take the lead in the top of the seventh, as Langlois led off with a stand-up double and Kayleen Shafer reached on an error to put runners on the corners with one out. However, the next two OSU batters struck out and grounded out, stranding both as the game ended in a 7-5 score in favor of Utah.

The Oregon State softball team returns to action on Sunday for game two of the series at Utah at noon PT (1 p.m. MT). The series wraps up on Monday at 11 a.m. PT (noon MT).

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.

OREGON STATE ATHLETICS' EVERYDAY CHAMPIONS CULTURE
Through the power of sport, we help people discover and pursue their passions, talents and purpose in order to live a life of balance and positive contribution.