Pac-10 Softball: ASU Nips Beavers, 5-4

OSU plays No. 5 Arizona on Saturday.

Photo: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Arizona State’s Mindy Cowles hit an eighth inning home run to lead the No. 9 ranked Sun Devils to a 5-4 victory over No. 15 Oregon State in Friday’s Pac-10 softball action.

The game was the second in as many meetings between the Beavers and Sun Devils to go extra innings – the two teams played 11 innings before ASU recorded an 8-7 victory on April 22nd in Tempe.

Oregon State (36-19; 7-9 Pac-10) rallied back from a two-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.

Sophomore catcher Stefanie Ewing led-off the frame with a single to left field and then pinch runner Kellie Roberts eventually came around to score when pinch hitter Kelly Dyer hit a grounder to second base. The Beavers knotted the score at 4-4 when pinch hitter Lisa Hill hit a RBI single to shallow left field.

Cowles then stepped to the plate as the lead-off batter in the top of the eighth and sent a solo shot over the right-center field fence to give Arizona State (46-13; 10-6 Pac-10) the edge.

Sun Devil ace Katie Burkhart sat the Beavers down in order in the bottom of the frame to secure the complete game victory.

Oregon State took a quick 1-0 lead in the opening inning when pitcher Brianne McGowan drove in DeAnn Young with a single to center field.

The Sun Devils pulled in front in the top of the second when catcher Kristen Miller belted a 2-run home run over the right-center field fence.

Cowles’ RBI single to left field pushed the ASU lead to 3-1 in the top of the third and a lead-off double by Kaitlin Cochran proved costly in the fifth as the Sun Devils added another run.

The Beavers got one run back in the bottom of the sixth when Cambria Miranda connected on her team-leading 10th home run of the season with a solo shot over the right-center field fence to make the score 4-2.

The Beavers return to action on Saturday against No. 5 ranked University of Arizona. Game-time is scheduled for 1:00 PM.

A special presentation will be made prior to the game to recognize OSU softball alumni and four-time All-American pitcher Tarrah Beyster (1997-00) is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

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