Beavers Down Cavaliers 9-1 in Five Innings

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Freshman Alexis Gonzalez went 3-for-3 with a run and two RBIs, as the Oregon State softball team defeated Virginia 9-1 Friday evening in five innings at the Mary Nutter Classic in Cathedral City, Calif.

Sophomore Kori Nishitomi went 1-for-1 with two runs, an RBI and three walks, while juniors CJ Chirichigno and Ya Garcia finished with one hit, one RBI and one run apiece. Junior Dani Gilmore recorded two runs and one hit, while senior Hannah Bouska tallied one run and one hit.

Senior Amanda Najdek allowed just three hits and one run, while striking out four in five innings of work.

Oregon State (4-10) jumped out to an early lead, with two runs in the first inning. Nishitomi opened the game with a walk, before Gilmore followed her example with another base-on-balls. Gonzalez then came through with a double down the left-field line to score Nishitomi, before Gilmore came home on a wild pitch to bring the score to 2-0.

The Beavers again got some offense from the top of the order in the third inning. This time Nishitomi started it off with a single, which Bouska followed by ripping a base hit of her own into center. Both runners would advance in the next at bat, before Gonzalez brought them home with a two-RBI single.

Oregon State wrapped the game up with a big fifth inning. Gilmore, Gonzalez and Chirichigno opened the frame with three-straight singles, to extend the lead to 5-1. Freshman Kylie Padilla walked to load the bases, and Virginia (2-9) proceeded to walk in four more runs, as the Beavers showed patience at the plate. Garcia, senior Bailee Niehus, freshman Alleyah Armendariz and Nishitomi all received free passes to give the Beavers the 9-1 win on the run-rule.

The Beavers will return to action tomorrow, when they close out the Mary Nutter Classic with games against Pacific and No. 2/3 Tennessee.

Game Notes:

-          Dani Gilmore’s first-inning walk moved her into sole possession of seventh on Oregon State’s career walks list with 79, moving her past Mia Longfellow.

-          Amee Aarhus made her first career start

-          Kori Nishitomi set a season-high with three walks. It was the highest total by an Oregon State player since Elizabeth Santana had three ion Apr. 27, 2013

-          Oregon State’s eight walks was the most the Beavers have had this season.