No. 3 Ranked University of Arizona Squeaks Out 1-0 Victory Over No. 7 Oregon State.

File Photo Courtesy: Oregon State Sports Information

TUCSON, AZ - The No. 3 ranked University of Arizona softball team squeaked out a 1-0 victory over No. 7 ranked Oregon State University in Friday`s Pacific-10 Conference thriller.

In Pac-10 fashion, the game worked out to be a classic pitcher`s dual between Oregon State All-American Brianne McGowan and Arizona All-American Alicia Hollowell.

Arizona got the lead-off batter aboard in three of the first four innings, but stellar Oregon State defensive plays and big pitches from McGowan kept the game scoreless.

Beaver catcher Lisa Allen gunned down Wildcat speedster Caitlin Lowe`s steal attempt in the opening frame and with a pair of runners in scoring position in the second inning, McGowan fanned Taryne Mowatt and OSU first baseman DeAnn Young snagged a line-drive to get out of the inning unscathed.

In one of the most amazing catches of the season, junior centerfielder Natalie Johnson made an over-the-shoulder, two-out, diving grab to get the Beavers out of the fourth inning and save a pair of Wildcat runs from crossing the plate.

Hollowell kept the Beaver batters at bay, fanning five straight at one point and hurling a no-hitter until senior catcher Lisa Allen roped a single to center field in the top of the fourth.

The Wildcats pushed the game`s lone run across the plate with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning as Beaver leftfielder Maggie DeWall made a diving attempt to secure a shallow fly ball on the foul line. DeWall dove and had the ball in her glove but it snuck out as she skidded across the grass in foul territory. The ball was ruled fair and an RBI double by Chelsea Mesa.

Hollowell (23-4) finished with 12 strikeouts including back-to-back K`s to end the game. McGowan (24-6) finished with six strikeouts in the loss. The Beaver pitcher holds a 3-2 all-time record in games against Arizona – as a program, OSU has just 10 victories all-time against the Wildcats.

The Beavers (38-12; 10-9 Pac-10) and Wildcats (43-9; 14-6 Pac-10) conclude the regular season with a 1 p.m. game on Sunday.

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports