No. 7 OSU Rallies For 2-1 Victory Over Nevada in NCAA Regional First Round

Photo Courtesy: OSU Communications

CORVALLIS - No. 7 ranked Oregon State rallied back for a dramatic 2-1 seventh inning victory over University of Nevada in Friday`s opening round of the NCAA Regional Softball Tournament in Corvallis.

Beaver All-American pitcher Brianne McGowan struck out 10 batters and sophomore Cambria Miranda went deep to spark the OSU offense to victory.

Nevada (33-32) took the early lead behind a lead-off solo home run from Cindy Elkins in the top of the third inning.

Oregon State (39-13) mounted a two-out rally in the bottom half of the frame behind back-to-back singles from Miranda and Mia Longfellow and loaded the bases after Adrienne Alo was hit by a pitch from Nevada ace Jordan McPherson (22-21).

Beaver senior Lisa Allen stepped to the plate, but grounded out to Wolf Pack third baseman Sarah Hunt to end the frame. Hunt made all three put-outs in the inning, the first two coming on diving plays as Nevada maintained its 1-0 edge.

McGowan (25-6) struck out the side in the top of the fourth inning as she found her groove in the circle.

Miranda knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning when she blasted her team-leading 15th home run of the season with a two-out shot over the left field fence.

McGowan continued her dominance of the Nevada batters, ending both the fifth and sixth innings with strikeouts and earning her 10th K of the game during the seventh.

Freshman first baseman DeAnn Young was hit by a pitch to lead-off Oregon State`s half of the seventh inning and pinch runner Kellie Roberts was successfully sacrificed to second base on a bunt from freshman Paige Lowe.

Nevada chose to intentionally walk Miranda and then Longfellow followed with a walk to load the bases for Alo to come to the plate. Alo hit a grounder that slid under Nevada shortstop Brittany Lorenzen`s glove and Roberts crossed the plate with the game-winner.

Both Miranda and Longfellow went 2-for-3 from the plate and McGowan allowed just three hits in the complete game victory.

Oregon State faces No. 19 Baylor University at 10:00 AM on Saturday, while Portland State will face Nevada at 1:00 PM.

Baylor rallied for a seventh inning 5-3 victory over Portland State in the opening game of the day.

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