CORVALLIS, Ore. – Facing a 2-2 count with two away and one on in the seventh, Lici Campbell sent the fans at Kelly Field home happy as she belted a no-doubt home run to left as the Oregon State softball team stunned eighth-ranked Stanford on Sunday afternoon.
For the third consecutive game in the series, the B found themselves down early but were eager to make a new response. With a 4-0 deficit after 3.5 innings, the Beavers (17-23, 6-10 Pac-12) began to chip away at another deficit with a bases-clearing double to left by Grace Messmer, which brought home Kaylee Oh and Madison Simon to make it 4-2 going into the fifth.
Leading off the sixth after a 1-2-3 fifth, Campbell reached scoring position with one swing when she roped a double to left field before Simon tied it on the next swing – a shot to left – to make it 4-4.
The Cardinal punched back in the seventh with a leadoff homer by Aly Kaneshiro to left to push the Beavers to the brink of being swept at Kelly Field as they took back the lead at 7-6. Appearing in relief, Ellie Garcia responded and buckled down to allow just one more baserunner aboard before she retired Stanford in the seventh.
After a Paige Doerr strikeout to put the Cardinal on the verge of sweeping the series, Jade Soto – pinch running for Abby Doerr – raced into scoring position on a dropped third strike to give the home team a jolt and some newfound life. On the ensuing at-bat with Campbell at the plate, the Bay Area native connected on the third pitch – an 0-2 count – and sealed the upset with the longball.
Garcia (6-8) picked up the win after 3.1 innings’ worth of work with five strikeouts and a run surrendered. Starting the game, Sarah Haendiges tossed the first 3.2 innings and was tagged with four runs on nine hits.
Campbell – with a 3-for-3 day – led the Beaver offense that tallied eight hits. Messmer added a pair of knocks while a trio – Kiki Escobar, Eliana Gottlieb and Simon – each had one apiece.
The win marked the fourth upset of a top 25 team at home since last season. The stretch also includes wins over: #9 Washington, #12 UCLA, #20 Oregon and #21 Arizona.
Oregon State will head back out on the road this upcoming weekend when the Rivalry Series resumes on Friday night. The series opener with Oregon is set for a 5 p.m. start from Jane Sanders Stadium. Action from Eugene can be seen on Pac-12 Networks Oregon.
OUR MISSIONOregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS)
