NCAA Softball Tournament: Louisville Blanks Oregon State

Courtney Moore’s 3-run home run in the top of the fourth inning put the game away for the Cardinals.

Senior Natalie Johnson went 1-for-2 from the plate against Louisville on Friday. Photo: OSU Athletics

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Oregon State suffered its largest loss in postseason history as the No. 15 ranked Beavers were downed 8-0 in five innings against University of Louisville in Friday’s first round action of the NCAA Regional Tournament.

Louisville (37-23) took the game’s early lead, capitalizing on three hits to score a pair of runs in the opening inning.

The Cardinals extended their advantage to 5-0 in the top of the second, knocking Beaver starter Brianne McGowan from the circle.

OSU (39-22) holds the second-best fielding percentage in the nation, but the Beavers made their second error of the contest in the second frame and Louisville was able to take advantage.

Courtney Moore’s 3-run home run in the top of the fourth inning put the game away for the Cardinals.

Oregon State’s offense was stymied from the plate. The Beavers managed back-to-back singles from Natalie Johnson and Cambria Miranda to open the bottom of the third inning but were unable to score.

Freshman Alana Ford’s single down the right field line in the bottom of the fourth was the only other hit the Beavers would get in the game.

“Louisville came out to play and swung the bats well,” said OSU head coach Kirk Walker. “We didn’t.”

Oregon State returns to the field on Saturday at 11:30 AM PDT to face the loser of tonight’s game between host University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University.

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