Long Beach State University
4-5
Oregon State
8-2
Fry’s Walkoff Caps Comeback Win Over Oregon State
2/17/2019 4:05:00 PM | Softball
Ashley Coleman pitched a complete game, allowing two earned runs over eight innings.
Coleman went the distance for Long Beach State (4-5), scattering six hits and allowing just two earned runs while striking out seven to improve to 3-1 on the year as the Beach handed Oregon State (8-2) just their second loss of the season.
After Coleman worked through a scoreless top of the eighth, the action progressed quickly for Long Beach State in the bottom half. With the tiebreaker rule in effect, Maddy Ruffin dropped down a perfect sacrifice, moving the runner over to third base and bringing up the top of the order in Fry. The senior had gotten off to a slow start after starting the season injured, but came through in a big way Sunday, turning on the 1-0 pitch from Meehra Nelson for a line drive home run to left field to win the game.
WALKOFF!! Nichole Fry homers to left field to win it!! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/3quVcJZvpz
— LBSU Softball (@LBSUSoftball) February 17, 2019
The Beach previously tied the game on two occasions. Sloppy play in the first inning led to an unearned run for both teams, leaving the game at 1-1 after one as both starting pitchers settled in.
Oregon State's big inning came in the top of the fifth. A leadoff walk started action on the bases, and a single and two fielder's choices later left runners on the corners with two outs. Missy Nunes singled to put the Beavers on top, and a single and error led to two more runs coming home to score as Oregon State took a 4-1 lead.
LBSU bounced right back in the bottom half. A leadoff walk and an error put two runners on for Jamie Wren, who then hit an RBI single to make the score 4-2. Alyssa Gonzalez then smashed a double to left to score one run, but Wren was thrown out at the plate to keep OSU in the lead.
Down to the bottom of the seventh, Long Beach State sent the game to extras with another rally. Wren singled to start the rally, and after a walk moved the senior to scoring position, Taylor Rowland singled to even the score at 4-4. Nelson was able to escape the inning with no further damage to send the game to extra innings.
Taylor Rowland ties it for Long Beach State! We're headed to extra innings here with Oregon State. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/kssWR3ZRyn
— LBSU Softball (@LBSUSoftball) February 17, 2019
Wren finished the game with three hits, while Gonzalez went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks to lead the offense along with Fry's game-winner.
Long Beach State will play one more game at home before resuming tournament play, hosting Army in the LBSU Softball Complex this Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Coleman, Ashley (3-1)
L: Mazon, Mariah (4-2)
Batting:
RBI: Nunes, Missy 1 ; Hammoude, Frankie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lopez, Lovie 2 ; Nunes, Missy 1 ; Rader, Maia 1
Batting:
2B: Wren, Jamie 1 ; Gonzalez, Alyssa 1
HR: Fry, Nichole 1
RBI: Fry, Nichole 2 ; Wren, Jamie 1 ; Gonzalez, Alyssa 1 ; Rowland, Taylor 1
SH: Ruffin, Maddy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fry, Nichole 1 ; Hernandez, Naomi 1 ; Wren, Jamie 2 ; Briones, Justine 1 ; Wise, Breezy 1
