No. 6 Oregon State Opens 2007 Softball Season in San Diego

The Beavers have won three of their last four season openers.

OSU pitcher Brianne McGowan Photo: OSU Athletics

SAN DIEGO - The sixth-ranked Oregon State Beavers begin the 2007 softball season Thursday at the San Diego State Tournament.
Thursday
No. 6 Oregon State at San Diego State - 7:00 PM
Friday
No. 6 Oregon State vs. No. 23 UMass - 11:30 AM
Saturday
No. 6 Oregon State vs. Kansas - 9:00 AM
Sunday
No. 6 Oregon State vs. UC Santa Barbara - 11:30 AM
No. 6 Oregon State at San Diego State - 2:00 PM

A LOOK AT THE BEAVERS:

Oregon State returns 11 players, including its pitching staff (Ta'Tyana McElroy and Brianne McGowan), as well as its entire infield (DeAnn Young, Paige Lowe, Mia Longfellow, and Sherina Galvan) for the 2007 season.

The Beavers bring seven freshmen into the mix while searching for their second straight trip to the NCAA Women’s College World Series.

OSU finished the 2006 campaign with a 43-16 overall record and a 10-10 Pac-10 Conference mark.

The Beavers are picked to finish fourth in the 2007 Pac-10 standings - behind defending national champion University of Arizona and fellow WCWS qualifiers UCLA and Arizona State.

SEASON OPENER:

Oregon State has won three of its last four season openers and the Beavers hold an all-time record of 7-5 in the first game of the year with Kirk Walker at the helm.

WHAT TO WATCH:

Oregon State senior pitcher Brianne McGowan needs just one victory to move into sole possession of second place in the OSU career record book for victories.

She enters the 2007 season opener tied with Monica Hoffman (2001-04) with 75 career wins. Tarrah Beyster (1997-00) holds the Oregon State record with 91 career victories. McGowan needs just eight strikeouts to surpass Beyster’s total of 694 and move into third place for all-time K’s at Oregon State.

BEAVERS IN THE TOP 25:

Oregon State opens the 2007 season with it’s highest ever preseason ranking, holding the No. 6 spot in both the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 and ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 Poll.

Seven Pac-10 Conference squads ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25; 1. Arizona, 3. UCLA, 5. Arizona State, 6. Oregon State, 8. Stanford, 10. California, 12. Washington.

OSU posted a program-best No. 5 ranking in both polls on May 3rd, 2006.

USA SOFTBALL NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST:

Three Oregon State players are listed on the initial watch list for the 6th annual USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award.

Senior pitcher Brianne McGowan, senior shortstop Mia Longfellow and junior utility player Cambria Miranda are all listed as potential candidates for the prestigious award.

This award, which is considered one of the most prestigious honors in women’s collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country.

The 2007 Pre-Season Watch List is comprised of 50 players, representing 33 schools and 11 conferences.

Oregon State is one of just four schools in the country to have three student-athletes selected on the initial list.

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