No. 9 Arizona State Softball Tops No. 7 Oregon State, 9-2

File Photo Courtesy: OSU

TEMPE, AZ - No. 9 ranked Arizona State used a six-run third inning to earn a 9-2 victory over No. 7 ranked Oregon State in Thursday`s Pacific-10 Conference softball night-cap.

The Sun Devil victory broke a four-game Beaver winning streak in Tempe.

Oregon State (38-11; 10-8 Pac-10) took an early 1-0 lead after senior Lisa Allen lofted her 32nd career home run over the right field wall in the second inning, but Arizona State (44-13; 8-10 Pac-10) answered with an unearned run to tie things up in the bottom of the frame.

The Beavers regained the lead in the top of the third behind Adrienne Alo`s two-out RBI single to shallow left field, but ASU answered again in the bottom of the inning with an unearned run of its own.

The Sun Devils put the game out of reach in the bottom of the third by plating six runs on seven hits. Kaitlin Cochran`s one-out home run started the ASU rally and the Sun Devils continued the barrage with doubles from Michelle Smith and Kristen Miller.

Oregon State got infield singles from Paige Lowe and Cambria Miranda in the fifth inning, but the Beavers failed to push any runs across the plate.

Kim Zadrozny`s two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth upped the ASU advantage to 9-2.

Beaver pitchers Ta`Tyana McElroy (14-6) and Amy Klever both saw action in the contest, while ASU ace Katie Burkhart (23-6) struck out nine batters in the complete game victory.

All 16 Beaver players dressed for the game saw action in the contest.

Oregon State returns to the field on Friday at No. 3 ranked University of Arizona. First-pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

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