2007 NCAA Softball Regional -- Game 5 Recap
5/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Oregon State 11, Louisville 4
Game 5 -- Saturday, May 19 -- 5 p.m.
Alumni Field, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Event: NCAA Softball Championship Regional 9 (Game 5)
Score: Oregon State 11, Louisville 4
Records: Louisville (37-25), Oregon State (41-22)
Next Louisville Game: Louisville eliminated with 1-2 record
Next Oregon State Game: Sunday, May 19 -- at Michigan, 1 p.m.
Oregon State Advances with Offensive Juggernaut
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- No. 15-ranked Oregon State eliminated Louisville by an 11-4 score on Saturday evening (May 19) at Alumni Field to advance to the Ann Arbor Regional final on Sunday (May 20) against No. 10 Michigan.
OSU pitcher Brianne McGowan (25-13) had a strong performance in the pitching circle as well as at the plate. She hurled a complete game, scattering 10 hits while allowing four runs. In the batter's box, she went 3-for-3 with a pair of homeruns and six RBI.
Only a day after losing to Louisville in a run-rule decision (8-0). Oregon State found its bats early and often against the Cardinals. In the first inning, Cambria Miranda hit a double to right center to lead off the game. Mia Longfellow then belted a single up the middle was driven in by a McGowan homerun to left center to stake a 3-0 lead.
Louisville responded in the bottom of the second inning. Kassie Stanfill singled through the left side and was brought in by Brook McCrain's homerun that crashed into the right-centerfield bleachers.
Oregon State continued its offensive onslaught by scoring runs in the third, fourth, sixth and seventh innings. In the top of the third, Miranda reached base on an error by the shortstop. OSU then strung together three consecutive singles by Longfellow, DeAnn Young and McGowan to bounce Louisville starting pitcher Catherine Bishop from the ballgame. Cardinal reliever Kristen Wadwell walked in the fourth and final run of the inning for the Beavers, who led 7-2.
In the top of the fourth inning, Longfellow led off and singled. Young reached base on a hit through the left side and advanced to second when UL unsuccessfully tried to throw out Longfellow at third. McGowan lined out to right field, however, the ball was hit deep enough to allow Longfellow to scamper home and increase the Beaver advantage to 8-2.
In the top of the sixth, McGowan hit her second homerun of the game when she crushed an offering well over the centerfield stands. OSU's other run in the sixth occurred when pinch runner Mindy Bean scored on an RBI single from Sherina Galvan to make it 10-2.
Miranda supplied a homerun in the top of the seventh to cap the scoring for Oregon State.
Louisville scored two runs late, one each in the sixth and seventh innings. Candi Hicks and Stanfill had the RBI singles.
Q U O T E S
Oregon State Head Coach Kirk Walker
Opening statement ... "Obviously, it was a great day for us to pull out that first win earlier and again tonight. The nicest thing about that second win was that we finally started to play more the way we are capable. So, it was nice to see that. I was very proud of our team and our kids for just coming out to play. I feel for Louisville. They had a great run, and they are a great team. But I'm just thankful that we came out and started to swing the bats."
On his team's biggest challenge for tomorrow's game ... "Our biggest challenge would be to not play one pitch at a time. It's within ourselves. I think if we can stay focused on playing every pitch, every inning and every batter just for that moment in time, like we did today, than we'll be in good shape."
OSU Shortstop Mia Longfellow
On playing with intensity ... "It just comes down to the fact that we're out of the tournament if we lose games. So, we came out and gave it all we had -- all the fight, all the pride you have left. You need to play with that every day.
OSU Pitcher/Designated Player Brianne McGowan
On the difference between yesterday and today ... "Yesterday Louisville came out on fire, but, today, our team came out on fire. Our players really brought it today. That seemed to be the major difference."
On rallying back from yesterday's loss ... "We always seem to lose our first game at regionals. So, yesterday it just seemed like, 'Here we go again.' I don't know if that added pressure helps us; we just seem to like digging ourselves out of holes."
Louisville Head Coach Sandy Pearsall
On Louisville's two-game day ... "Today has been a long day. I certainly have to take my hat off to Oregon State. They came out ready to play. I'm sure they had a little incentive after last night's game. They obviously pitched a little better than we did. We just really didn't get much pitching in this last game, and they hit us pretty hard. In our earlier game against Michigan, we certainly wanted to win that one so we could play just one game a day. So, when we didn't win, it took a little sail out of us. We slowed down a bit, and we didn't seem as fired up. Sometimes it's hard to have a game off in between. You kind of calm down a little too much."
On falling behind early against Oregon State ... "That definitely was a momentum builder. Yesterday, we jumped right on their pitcher and scored early. That gave us momentum and made us feel like we could do it right away. I feel that getting those few runs early really got them started. That pumped them up and made them feel in control of that game."
UL Designated Player Kassie Stanfill
On Louisville's hitting ... "It seemed like we hit the ball, and we had runners on; we just couldn't get them in. We would hit the ball right to them, or they'd make a nice play. It happens like that, and, sometimes, that's just how it is."
