No. 7 Oregon State Tops Wright State, Cal State Northridge

The Beavers used a 5-run second inning to pull away from Northridge (2-5-1) in the final game of the day.

Photo: OSU Athletics

LAS VEGAS - Four different Oregon State players hit home runs on the day, including a grand slam from junior Cambria Miranda, as the No. 7 ranked Beaver softball team won a pair of games at the UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic on Saturday.

OSU recorded a 9-2 victory over Wright State and then topped Cal State Northridge by a 6-1 score.

Oregon State’s (6-2) offense came alive to score seven runs in the second inning of play against Wright State (0-3).

Back-to-back home runs from freshman Alana Ford, who belted her first career homer with a three-run shot over the centerfield fence, and Mia Longfellow, who went deep to right-center, sparked the squad.

The Beavers added their third home run of the inning when pitcher Brianne McGowan moved into fifth place all-time at OSU with her 26th career long ball.

“Offensively we swung the bat well and came up with some big hits,” said Oregon State head coach Walker.

McGowan pitched five innings to earn the victory, while freshman Stefanie Draper saw her first action of the season when she entered the game in relief.

Draper struck out a pair of batters and didn’t allow a hit in two innings of work.

“Stefanie Draper did a nice job holding the lead and threw well in her first outing,” said Walker.

Longfellow finished the contest with a 3-for-4 clip from the plate and two runs scored as 16 Oregon State players saw action in the game and five players finished with multiple hits.

Freshman outfielder Katelyn Miller picked up the first hit of her career, finishing the game with a 2-for-3 mark from the plate and a double.

Natalie Johnson, Stefanie Ewing and McGowan added two hits as well.

The Beavers used a 5-run second inning to pull away from Northridge (2-5-1) in the final game of the day.

Miranda drove in four of the runs in the frame with her first career grand slam over the leftfield fence.

Senior pitcher Ta’Tyana McElroy matched her career-high with 10 strikeouts on the way to the complete game victory.

“Ty (McElroy) did a great job,” said Walker. “She was able to work her way out of a few jams and threw extremely well against a really good Northridge team.”

Oregon State returns to action on Friday with a 3 p.m. game against Penn State followed by a 6:00 PM outing against fellow Women’s College World Series participant No. 6 Northwestern at the Palm Springs Classic.

The Beavers host the 26-team tournament in Cathedral City, CA, that features six of last year’s World Series teams.

The four-day event has over 60 games of competition with the nation’s top softball programs.

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