No. 6 Oregon State Rips Kansas, 7-0

Senior pitcher Brianne McGowan moved into 2nd place all-time for wins and a tie for 3rd place all-time in strikeouts against KU. Photo: OSU Athletics

SAN DIEGO - Senior pitcher Brianne McGowan moved into second place in the Oregon State career record book for victories as the No. 6 ranked Beavers shutout Kansas, 7-0, on Saturday morning at the San Diego State Tournament.

The win was the 76th in McGowan’s career, moving her into sole possession of second place on the OSU all-time charts behind Tarrah Beyster’s 91 career victories.

McGowan allowed four hits in four innings of scoreless work, before fellow senior Ta'Tyana McElroy threw the final three innings to earn her first save of the season.

McGowan’s three strikeouts in the game also moved her into a tie with Beyster for third place all-time at Oregon State with 694 career K’s.

“Both Bree (McGowan) and Ty (McElroy) did a good job of working out of situations with runners on base,” said OSU head coach Kirk Walker.

Oregon State (2-1) broke the game open with three runs in the top of the third inning.

Sophomore first baseman DeAnn Young picked up a two-out 2-RBI single down the right field line to score Cambria Miranda who had opened the inning with a single and Natalie Johnson who reached base on Kansas’ third error of the game.

The Beavers extended the lead when McGowan belted an RBI double to right field to plate pinch runner Kellie Roberts.

OSU added another run in the top of the fourth to make the score 4-0.

The Beavers took advantage of a pair of hits from Paige Lowe and Johnson, followed by another Kansas error that allowed Lowe to come across the plate when Johnson stole second base.

The onslaught continued in the fifth with three more Oregon State runs behind freshman rightfielder Dani Chisholm’s 2-RBI single to left-center field and Miranda’s RBI double down the leftfield line.

“It was nice to have our offense more consistent today,” said Walker. “We swung the bat better with runners in scoring position.”

Oregon State had 15 different players see action in the game, including five freshmen.

Freshman utility player Alana Ford saw her first time at third base at the end of the contest and recorded all three outs in the bottom of the seventh.

The Beavers wrap-up tournament action with a pair of games on Sunday. OSU faces UC Santa Barbara at 11:30 AM, followed by a rematch with San Diego State at 2:00 PM.

GAME RESULTS:

No. 6 Oregon State – 003 130 0 – 7 8 1

Kansas – 000 000 0 – 0 6 4

McGowan, McElroy (5) and Ewing (OSU), Vertelka, George (5) and Simington (KU). Win – McGowan (1-1). Loss – Vertelka (0-1). Save – McElroy (OSU). 2B – McGowan (OSU), Miranda (OSU).

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