TAMPA, Fla. – Opening the 2024 campaign at the USF-Rawlings Invitational, the Oregon State softball team split their twinbill on Friday beating Bethune-Cookman and falling to 24th-ranked Florida.
Game 1: Oregon State 9, Bethune-Cookman 1
Maddy Clark’s RBI single in the fourth kickstarted a five-run frame that proved to be the difference in Oregon State’s season opener. Grace Messmer, Clark, Savanah Whatley, and Kiki Escobar all crossed home to pad the Beavers’ advantage. A Whatley single to left-center drove in Eliana Gottlieb from second just an inning later.
After missing 2023 due to injury, Charity Sevaaetasi got Oregon State on the board with a towering shot to deep left for the second-inning 1-0 lead. Bethune-Cookman evened the affair a half-inning later at 1-1 with a bases-loaded single.
Seven – Clark (2), Campbell, Escobar, Abby Doerr, Gottlieb, Messmer and Whatley – all registered a hit to get the offense going early with Escobar and Gottlieb having extra-base knocks.
Sarah Haendiges (1-0) picked up her first win of the season after throwing 4.0 innings. The Upland, California, native fanned three, walked three, allowed four hits forced eight groundouts and yielded the earned run. Ellie Garcia threw two shutout innings in relief where she fanned four.
Game 2: No. 24 Florida 1, Oregon State 0
A solo shot to deep right field by Florida in the third proved to be the difference in a 1-0 setback to the 24th-ranked Gators in the nightcap.
Looking to respond or even take the lead, the Beavers threatened with bases loaded and nobody out but came up empty as they hit into a fielder’s choice and double play in consecutive at-bats.
Making her debut with Oregon State, Logan Hulon (0-1) was charged with the loss. The Texan struck out six and walked a pair across the game’s entirety, where she surrendered the lone run on three hits.
Campbell plated a double to pace the Oregon State offense.
The Beavers will be back in action with another doubleheader in Tampa where they’ll take on Illinois State and hosts South Florida. Action is set for 8:30 a.m. PT and the contest against USF can be seen on ESPN+, with first pitch slated for approximately 1:30 p.m. PT.
