Pac-10 Softball: Oregon State Wins Season Finale at Stanford, 9-2

Oregon State pitcher Brianne McGowan (23-12) dominated in the circle, allowing just two hits

Senior shortstop Mia Longfellow was a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate and scored four runs against No. 16 Stanford on Saturday. Photo: OSU Athletics

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Senior shortstop Mia Longfellow went 4-for-4 from the plate and scored four runs as No. 15 ranked Oregon State dominated No. 16 ranked Stanford by a 9-2 score in Saturday’s Pac-10 softball regular season finale.

Winners of three straight overall, the Beavers won 10 Pac-10 games for the third straight year – a first in program history.

Oregon State (39-21; 10-11 Pac-10) took the season series from Stanford (33-19-1; 7-13-1 Pac-10) for just the third time in program history and for the first time since 1999.

Longfellow matched the school record for both hits (4) and runs (4) in a single game.

OSU’s all-time leader in hits, singles and stolen bases, the 5-1 speedster ranks in second place all-time with 135 career runs scored – just six shy of Adrienne Alo’s (2003-06) school record.

Back-to-back infield singles to open the game by Dani Chisholm and Longfellow followed by RBI’s from Brianne McGowan and Sherina Galvan gave the Beavers a quick 2-0 lead.

The Cardinal responded by pushing a pair of runs across the plate in the bottom of the second to knot the score, but it was all Oregon State from there.

Longfellow led-off the third inning with her second it of the day and McGowan stepped to the plate with one-out before launching a two-run blast over the left-center field fence to help the Beavers regain the lead at 4-2.

The homer was the eighth of the season and the 33rd in the career of the Reno, NV native.

McGowan helped her own cause defensively by bare-handing a chopper from Stanford speedster Jackie Rinehart in the bottom of the third inning and rifling it to first base to get the out and spark the team.

The Beavers put the game out of reach in the top of the fifth inning, scoring four runs on four hits while batting around the order.

Highlighting the frame was an infield RBI single from Galvan and a two-RBI chopper to left field from catcher Stefanie Ewing.

Longfellow led-off the sixth inning with her fourth hit of the contest and came around to score for the fourth time when McGowan hit a slow roller to third base. The RBI was the fourth of the game for McGowan, making the score 9-2.

McGowan (23-12) dominated in the circle, allowing just two hits – both coming in the second inning – until the Cardinal finally got a seventh inning single from Erin Howe.

Oregon State’s all-time record holder in wins, shutouts, strikeouts and saves, McGowan earned her 98th career victory in the circle.

Over the past three games, the Beavers have scored 27 runs and pounded 31 hits.

Oregon State now awaits word on where the Beavers will open their ninth consecutive berth in the NCAA Regional Tournament.

The NCAA Selection Show will air Sunday from noon-1:00 PM PDT on ESPN News. The tournament field consists of 64 teams sent to 16 different regional sites.

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