Oregon State Blanks No. 18 Kentucky To Cap Off Opening Day

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Oregon State Beavers made five key hits with runners in scoring position to plate eight runs on nine hits Friday night in an 8-0 win over No. 18 Kentucky at the Tempe Sports Complex. 

Sophomore Erin Rethlake and junior Shannon Smith combined to pitch the game for Kentucky, with Rethlake going the first three innings, allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout. Smith then came in relief for the second game of the day, allowing four runs in 2.2 innings of work. 

Kentucky (1-1) will face No. 4/7 Oregon on Saturday afternoon with first pitch slated for 4:30 p.m. ET from Tempe. The win Friday night moved Oregon State to 2-0 on the season. Kentucky falls to 1-1. 

Key Stat

Oregon State had five hits with runners on base, and three of those came with runners in scoring position. Kentucky was 0-for-5 with runners on base and 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position in the game. 

Key Play

The Beavers’ Natalie Hampton hit a two-run home run to left field in the bottom of the third inning. The homer made the score 3-0 OSU at the time. 

Key Player

Nikki Sagermann was one of two Kentucky players to record hits on Friday night, along with freshman Katie Reed. Sagermann went 1-for-3 at the plate.  

Run Recap

Oregon State took the early lead in the bottom of the second inning after the Beavers were able to load the bases with nobody out on Rethlake. After a force play at home, a sac fly to left field brought home the first run of the game. OSU 1, UK 0

The Beavers would tack on three runs in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a two-run homer by Natalie Hampton. After a single to the next batter, Lovie Lopez doubled down the leftfield line to score a third batter in the inning. OSU 4, UK 0

After a walk and an error to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning, Kayleen Schafer doubled to left to score Madison Anthony and make it 5-0. After the Wildcats walked in the sixth run of the game, Oregon State would go ahead by a seventh run when Alysha Evertt singled to left to score Schafer. OSU 7, UK 0

Oregon State would cap off the run rule win with a double to right field scoring a runner from second base. FINAL – OSU 8, UK 0

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