March streak ends as softball loses two games

By: The Daily Barometer

Posted: 3/5/07

FULLERTON, Calif. - No. 11 Oregon State lost a tough 1-0 contest to Cal State-Fullerton in Sunday's final softball game at the CSUF Worth Tournament after splitting a pair of games on Saturday.

The Beavers (11-7) were unable to put things together offensively Sunday as junior Cambria Miranda and freshman Dani Chisholm were the lone players to pick up a hit on the day.

"Offensively we had some good at-bats and hit the ball solidly, but failed to adjust until the sixth and seventh inning," OSU head coach Kirk Walker said.

Fullerton scored the game's lone run after Sheila Holguin led-off the bottom of the second inning with a triple down the right field line and scored on the next play when Whitney Kroh hit an infield single.

Beaver pitchers Brianne McGowan (6-4) and Ta'Tyana McElroy combined in the circle on the afternoon. McElroy pitched the game's final three innings and didn't allow a hit.

"We pitched well enough to win," said Walker. "Both Bree (McGowan) and Ty (McElroy) did a good job. Ty came in and really shut them down."

CSUF had only four hits on the day.

"We didn't come out with the same intensity that we had against Northwestern," said Walker. "We need to figure out how to play hard every day, every game, and every inning."

On Saturday, OSU rolled to a 7-0 shutout victory over Minnesota before dropping an extra-inning game to No. 8 Northwestern, 4-0.

In the opener, it was all Oregon State from the start. Senior shortstop Mia Longfellow sent the first pitch of the game over the leftfield fence for her second home run of the season and the Beavers proceeded to score three more runs in the frame, helped in part by a two-RBI double from sophomore Stefanie Ewing.

"Mia's home run on the first pitch of the game was a great way to set the tempo," Walker said. "We put the pressure on them early and had a really explosive game offensively."

OSU extended its lead to 7-0 in the top of the third inning by taking advantage of three walks, a Minnesota error, and two hits, to put the game away.

McElroy struck out four batters and allowed just two hits in five innings of work before freshman pitcher Stefanie Draper tossed two scoreless innings in relief.

Oregon State had 17 players see action in the game, with eight players picking up hits, including a 2-for-3 effort from senior Sherina Galvan.

Both teams played seven scoreless innings in the night game before Northwestern broke it open by taking advantage of the international tie-breaker in the top of the eighth. The Wildcats loaded the bases and Nicole Pauly roped a two-RBI double to right field to score what proved to the be the game-winners. NU catcher Erin Dyer followed with a two-RBI single up the middle to finish the scoring.

Miranda led OSU with a 2-for-4 effort from the plate as the Beavers were held to just four hits in the contest.

"We had runners in scoring position in six of the eight innings and had our opportunities," said Walker. "We just weren't able to put together the timely hitting."

McGowan had eight strikeouts in the game and allowed just three hits in the first seven innings of play. The Wildcats tallied three hits in the extra frame.

"Bree [McGowan] pitched a great ballgame and really shut down their offense," said Walker. "Other than a couple of timely hits in the tie-breaker, she kept their hitters in check."

The Beavers had their winning streak in the month of March snapped at 31 consecutive games dating back to March 26, 2004.

Oregon State returns to the field on Wednesday when the Beavers travel to the Hawaii Invitational. OSU will open tournament action at 12 p.m. PST against Boston College and then will meet Pacific at 2 p.m. PST.