Big Second Inning Not Enough, as OSU Drops to UCLA

Big Second Inning Not Enough, as OSU Drops to UCLA

CORVALLIS - The Oregon State softball team scored six runs in the second inning, but could not hang on to an early lead, as No. 7 UCLA took a 11-6 win Saturday afternoon at the OSU Softball Complex.

Freshman Lovie Lopez recorded the first triple of her collegiate career, a bases-clearing knock in the big second inning. Senior Dani Gilmore notched a hit in the game to move into sole possession of eighth on Oregon State’s career hits list with 206.

Redshirt sophomore Natalie Hampton went 2-for-4 with her fourth double of the season. Freshman Alysha Everett recorded two hits in the contest, batting in the second spot in the order for the first time this season. Senior CJ Chirichigno and freshman McKenna Arriola both finished with a hit, a run and an RBI. Junior Sammi Noland ended the day with a hit and a run.

UCLA (40-8, 14-3 Pac-12) scored one run in the top of the first, but freshman pitcher Rainey Dyreson stranded a runner on third to work out of the inning. The Bruins would add another in the second to take a 2-0 lead.

The Beavers (25-22, 5-15) would strike back with a big bottom of the second, as Oregon State batted around en route to a six-run inning. Hampton started the inning with a double to the gap, before Noland singled and Akamine walked to load the bases. Chirichigno ripped a single down the right-field line to put the Beavers on the board and Arriola followed her with another single to score OSU’s second run. Lopez proceeded to clear the bases with a triple to right to give Oregon State the lead. Junior Mikela Manewa capped of the inning by plating Lopez with a single to give Oregon State a 6-2 advantage heading to the third.

UCLA would get a pair back on a homer in the third inning, and added another run in the fourth before the Beavers ended the inning with a double-play. The Bruins would add six more over the final three innings.

Oregon State threatened in the bottom of the seventh, when Gilmore and Hampton recorded back-to-back singles. Both runners were stranded, though, as UCLA took the victory.

The Beavers will wrap up their 2015 home slate Monday, when they host Senior Day at 4 p.m.