FRESNO, Calif. – Unable to complete a comeback attempt in the game’s late stages of the game, the Oregon State softball team fell to Utah Valley by a 5-4 line to wrap up the Fresno State Invitational on Sunday morning.
Facing a 1-0 deficit after Utah Valley’s first trip up, Oregon State (5-5) punched back with a three-spot on the board for a 3-1 advantage. When Lici Campbell found first base on a Wolverine miscue, she moved up on Madi Simon’s single upthe middle and eventually home on Kaiea Higa’s sac fly to right. Grace Messmer brought Simon home on her ensuing single before another UVU error allowed Abby Doerr to cross home.
The Wolverines piled on four to take the lead they wouldn’t relinquish two frames later in the third. On three consecutive at-bats with two away, the Wolverines plated the runs off the arm of Sarah Haendiges.
Looking to get even or pull ahead, the Beavers threatened in the sixth but could only push across Messmer following her leadoff walk. The inning ended with two consecutive outs as Kiki Escobar was stranded just 60 feet away at third.
Haendiges – responsible for all five of the runs allowed – was tagged with the loss. She went 2.2 innings, allowing six hits, striking out three and walking two. Logan Hulon finished the third inning before Ellie Garcia tossed the contest’s final four frames.
The Beavers will return to action in southern California for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Thursday, February 22nd with a two-game day against Wisconsin and then Bethune-Cookman. Every game from Cathedral City will be shown live on FloSoftball.
