Oregon State Splits Action on Day Two of Candrea Classic
TUCSON, Ariz. – In the final day of the Candrea Classic, Oregon State softball split a pair of games on Saturday afternoon. Tarni Stepto dished out a dominant performance for her first career Beaver victory in the circle while Frankie Hammoude delivered two home runs on the day, including one against second-ranked Alabama.
OSU 8, SU 0 (6 innings)
Stepto, the Australian National Team pitcher, threw 5.0 innings, giving up just two hits with six strikeouts. Freshman Sarah Haendiges threw the final inning, retiring the batters in order that was highlighted by one strikeout.
The Beavers compiled 11 hits against the Thunderbirds of Southern Utah. Madison Simon (2-for-4), Hammoude (2-for-3), Eliana Gottlieb (2-for-3) and Lici Campbell (2-for-3) combined to hit 8-for-13 on the day with five RBIs. Three other Beavers appeared in the hit column, including senior Mariah Mazon's home run in the first inning.
OSU's offenses unloaded in the first inning, putting up four runs on three hits, including home runs from Mazon and Hammoude. Simon added an RBI double to start the inning.
The Orange & Black needed five hits to earn the run-rule victory in the sixth as Gottlieb, Charity Sevaaetasi and Simon grabbed RBIs.
Freshman Erin Mendoza laid down a bunt single while Grace Messmer drew a walk as the pair came home from Gottlieb's double. Campbell followed with a one-out single up the middle before Gottlieb came home from Sevaaetasi's single through the left side. Simon sealed the win with a center field single.
#2 UA 5, OSU 1
The Beavers strung together three hits against No. 2 Alabama in the final game of the Candrea Classic, highlighted by Hammoude's second home run of the day in the second inning.
In the circle, Mazon (0-2) struck out six in seven innings, allowing five runs, nine hits and one walk in her first complete game of the season.
Alabama (2-0) scored single runs in the first and second before Hammoude delivered a solo shot to right field in the bottom half of the second. After two scoreless innings of work by Mazon, the Crimson Tide broke through with three insurance runs in the fifth off three hits and an OSU error.
With two outs in the seventh, Nelson connected on an infield single but the game ended just one Beaver batter later.
Up Next:
The Beavers play twice on Sunday, Feb. 13, travelling to Las Cruces, N.M. for a neutral game against Texas State (9:30 a.m. PT) before playing host New Mexico State (12 p.m. PT) to conclude the five-game road trip.
For more information on the Oregon State softball team, visit OSUBeavers.com or follow the team @BeaverSoftball on Twitter and Instagram.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).