McGowan Leads Oregon State to Regional Championship Game

Brianne McGowan hit two home runs, and had six RBI in the Beavers 11-4 win over Louisville.

Senior pitcher Brianne McGowan earned her 100th career victory, hit two home runs and had six RBI against Louisville. Photo: OSU Athletics

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Senior pitcher Brianne McGowan earned her 100th career victory and helped her own cause by hitting a pair of home runs and totaling six RBI in No. 15 ranked Oregon State’s 11-4 victory over University of Louisville in Saturday night’s NCAA Softball Regional Tournament action.

With the victory, Oregon State (41-22) advances to Sunday’s championship game against No. 10 ranked University of Michigan.

“I’m proud of this team,” said OSU head coach Kirk Walker. “We finally started to play how we are capable and did a great job today.”

The Beavers came out on fire to open the game.

A lead-off double to the right field fence from Cambria Miranda sparked the offense from the onset.

Senior shortstop Mia Longfellow followed with an RBI single and then came around to score when McGowan sent a towering two-run home run over the left-center field fence.

Louisville closed within 3-2 when Cardinals right fielder Brooke McCrain belted a two-run home run over the right-center field fence in the bottom of the second inning.

A big third inning helped Oregon State extend its lead to 7-2 as the first four Beaver batters recorded singles and OSU batted around the order.

McGowan drove in two more runs in the frame and freshman Kelly Dyer picked up an RBI when she drew a bases loaded walk.

The Longfellow and McGowan combination proved lethal again in the top of the fourth inning as Longfellow started the inning with her third hit of the game and then came around to score when McGowan hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

The run scored was the 141st of Longfellow’s career, tying her with Adrienne Alo (2003-06) as Oregon State’s all-time record holder.

McGowan belted her second home run of the game in the top of the sixth inning with a 300-foot blast over the right-center field fence.

The home run was the 10th of the season for the Reno, NV, native and the 35th of her career – moving her into sole possession of second place in the Beavers’ all-time record book.

The home run also marked McGowan’s sixth RBI of the game, giving her 134 in her career – the second-most in Oregon State history. OSU made the score 10-2 later in the inning when senior third baseman Sherina Galvan had an RBI single to center field.

Louisville (37-25) picked up a run in both the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings and Miranda belted her team-leading 11th home run of the year for Oregon State in the top of the seventh to round out the scoring.

McGowan’s last trip to the plate saw Louisville pitcher Kristen Wadwell intentionally walking her.

McGowan, Longfellow and Miranda all scored three runs in the game. McGowan was a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate, while Miranda was 3-for-5.

Longfellow picked up her second four-hit game in the past week with a 4-for-5 clip from the plate – once again matching the school record for hits in a single game.

McGowan (25-13) struck out six batters on the afternoon to raise her school record career total to 850 K’s. Her 100 career victories rank in 11th place all-time in the Pacific-10 Conference record books.

Sunday’s championship game is scheduled to start a 10:00 AM PDT.

The Beavers must win twice to garner a berth in the Super Regional.

The game is a rematch of the 2004 NCAA Regional Tournament final when the Wolverines earned a berth to the Women’s College World Series.

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