Oregon State, minus star Mariah Mazon, falls to Florida 7-1 in Women’s College World Series opener

OKLAHOMA CITY — Quick-handed Oregon State couldn’t overcome the lack of its finest participant Thursday, as Florida used a 13-hit assault and stellar reduction pitching to attain a 7-1 win within the Girls’s Faculty World Collection opener at OGE Vitality Subject.

The Beavers, making simply their second WCWS look at school historical past, got here up quick in key conditions. Florida scored two runs within the second and fourth inning to take command and put away upstart Oregon State. Reliever Natalie Lugo pitched the ultimate six innings, setting down 18 of the 19 OSU hitters she confronted.

An hour earlier than the sport, Oregon State introduced that standout pitcher Mariah Mazon was unavailable to play. OSU didn’t give a motive for Mazon’s absence. Mazon is OSU’s prime pitcher, a third-team all-American, and one of many Beavers’ finest hitters.

Oregon State put freshman pitcher Sarah Haendiges within the circle. Haendiges was beneath strain practically each inning, as she gave up 10 hits and 5 runs earlier than exiting with two out within the fifth inning.

Oregon State (39-21) falls to the elimination bracket, the place the Beavers face the loser of Thursday’s nightcap between Arizona and Oklahoma State. The loser-out recreation begins at 6:30 p.m. If it’s Arizona, the Beavers have some familiarity, as they beat the Wildcats in two of three common season video games.

Oregon State made its unbelievable run to the WCWS after snapping a 10-game dropping streak late within the common season. The Beavers, one of many closing 4 groups to earn an at-large berth, received the Knoxville Regional by defeating host Tennessee, then swept Stanford to seize the tremendous regional.

Florida (49-17) produced seven singles throughout the first 4 innings to construct a 4-1 lead. Cheyenne Lindsey had three hits and three runs to key a 13-hit Gators assault. No. 9 hitter Avery Goelz had three RBI, whereas Charla Echols had a homer and a triple.

Oregon State managed solely 5 hits, together with a double by Xiao Gin. 4 hits got here off Florida starter Lexie Delbrey.

The Beavers struck first, as Gin scored on Frankie Hammoude’s two-out single within the first inning.

The Beavers had an opportunity for a windfall within the second, because the 7-8-9 hitters within the lineup landed on base with no out. However Florida turned to the bullpen, the place Lugo bought three consecutive outs to maintain OSU scoreless within the second.

Florida capitalized throughout its half of the second, when the primary two hitters reached base. Then with two out, Goelz hit a pointy grounder to first, which glanced off Hammoude’s glove. Two runs scored, and the Gators had a 2-1 lead.

The Beavers had been unable to muster threats within the third and fourth. Florida continued to supply, because the pesky Goelz did it once more. Her two-run single to middle within the fourth inning elevated the Gators’ result in 4-1.

Florida continued to thunder away, scoring three within the fifth for a 7-1 lead. The large blow was Echols’ solo homer to middle.

Although none of the present OSU gamers have been to the WCWS, the Beavers teaching workers is loaded with World Collection expertise. Coach Laura Berg and pitching coach Marcie Inexperienced every performed in three WCWS whereas enjoying at Fresno State. Berg performed on a nationwide championship workforce in 1998.

— Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel