Oregon State Wins Two on Day One of the Easton Invitational
vs Utah State Results | vs Cal State Fullerton Results | Boxscore
FULLERTON, Calif. - Oregon State softball posted two wins on the first day of competition in 2021. The Beavers earned victories over Utah State and Cal State Fullerton at the Easton Invitational in Fullerton, California, Friday.
OSU was led by impressive work from the circle by senior Trystan Melancon and junior Mariah Mazon. The two pitchers combined for 19 strikeouts over the course of two games. Melancon allowed just two hits against the Aggies while Mazon led the defense in a comeback win over the Titans.
Game one vs. Utah State - Won, 6-1
The Beavers opened the season with a strong game against the Aggies. Oregon State started with three straight outs to get to batting quickly.
Adding to the defense's strong start, the offense did not disappoint. Freshman Madison Simon started her career with a single to get on base. With Simon on third, Mazon hit another single for the team's first RBI of the season.
Utah State quickly answered with a home run in the top of the second inning. Despite the tied score, Melancon did not let up, gaining her fourth strikeout in the second inning before having a part in all three outs in the third.
Melancon added three more strikeouts before the Beavers hit their stride in the bottom of the fourth inning. After the first three at bats, the bases were loaded with freshman Grace Messmer batting. Messmer hit a double to grab two RBIs with freshman Ivana Perez eventually gaining a fourth RBI for Oregon State.
The fifth inning flew by with seven total plays but the Aggies were able to get on base for the top of the sixth. With a runner on first and second, Melancon pitched her ninth, and final, strikeout of the game to close the top half of the inning.
The bottom of the sixth saw the Beavers' first home run of 2021 when junior Missy Nunes sent the ball to center field for two RBIs.
Leading 6-1, freshman Xiao Gin took to the mound to deliver a putout before garnering the final strikeout of the game.
OSU finished the game with six hits and no errors while Melancon allowed two hits and Gin allowed one. Nunes and Messmer led with two RBIs each.
Game two vs Cal State Fullerton - W, 5-4
The second game of the day had a rough start for Oregon State. The Titans defended the Beavers to three-straight outs before scoring three runs in the first inning.
Oregon State ran through the second inning as Mazon struck out her first and second batters on the season.
OSU got on the scoreboard in the third inning after sophomore Frankie Hammoude hit a double to earn an RBI as Mazon ran through home plate.
The fourth inning saw the Titans add one run while Mazon added two more strikeouts.
Headed into the fifth inning, the Titans were up, 4-1. Closing the scoring gap, Nunes hit her second home run of the day for two RBIs.
Following a strong offensive half, the defense showed up for its first 1-2-3 inning of the game. The bottom of the fifth saw three straight putouts by the Beaver defense.
The sixth inning remained quiet with Mazon gaining an additional two strikeouts.
Down by one, the Beavers headed to the seventh inning. With two outs and two runners on base, freshman Charity Sevaaetasi hit a single to shortstop, earning an RBI to tie the score, 4-4. Redshirt-sophomore Rylee Maston followed in Sevaaetasi's footsteps with another OSU single, and RBI, to take the lead, 5-4.
Mazon made her final two strikeouts for the win.
Oregon State finished the game with eight hits and three errors. Mazon totaled 10 strikeouts, allowing eight hits, while Nunes led with two RBIs.
The Beavers return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. against Utah State before battling Cal State Fullerton once again at 6 p.m.
For more information on the Oregon State softball team, visit OSUBeavers.com or follow the team on Twitter and Instagram, @BeaverSoftball.
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