Non-Conference Softball: Beavers Sweep Double-Header with Portland State

Eight different Oregon State players picked up hits in the first game.

Freshman Dani Chisholm went 4-for-6 from the plate with two runs scored on the afternoon against Portland State. Photo: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS - Beaver pitchers Brianne McGowan and Ta'Tyana McElroy led the way as the No. 17 ranked Oregon State softball team swept a pair of games on Tuesday afternoon against Portland State by scores of 4-0 and 6-2.

McGowan (19-7) breezed through the Portland State (17-22) batters in the opening game, striking out six en route to her 34th career shutout victory.

With her six K’s in the game, McGowan upped her career strikeout total to 808 – just two strikeouts shy of breaking the OSU school record of 809, held by Crystal Draper (1999-02).

The Reno, NV native helped her own cause when she belted a 2-run double to the left-center field gap in the bottom of the fifth inning. OSU (30-12) added two more runs in the frame behind RBI singles from Cambria Miranda and DeAnn Young.

Eight different Oregon State players picked up hits in the first game and both Mia Longfellow and Dani Chisholm had two hits each.

“I was pleased with our intensity,” said OSU head coach Kirk Walker. “We did a good job offensively with runners in scoring position and swung the bat well.”

The Beavers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game-2 behind four hits in the bottom of the second inning. Longfellow and Miranda both picked up 2-RBI singles in the frame.

Freshman Kelly Dyer’s pinch hit 2-RBI double to the right field fence made the score 6-0 in the bottom of the third.

The Vikings finally broke through against McElroy (10-5) in the top of the fourth inning when Jackie Heide belted a double to left field and eventually scored on a single to center field from Jana Rae Slayton.

Mandy Hill’s lead-off sixth inning home run over the left-center field fence pulled PSU within 6-2, but that would be as close as the Vikings would get.

Longfellow and Chisholm continued their consistent play from the plate, both registering two more hits in the second game.

The Beavers return to Pac-10 play on Friday when Oregon State hosts No. 12 UCLA at 3:00 PM.

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