CORVALLIS – The chill of a windy, rainy Friday afternoon was a fitting setting for the latest loss of the Oregon softball team that left team members searching for answers.
The Ducks’ 3-1 defeat to host Oregon State left Oregon players talking amongst themselves in a lengthy postgame meeting.
The team met for about 20 minutes, then branched off into an emotional players-only meeting. With the season winding down, opportunities are disappearing for Oregon’s five seniors to turn around their season and make a postseason push.
“When you’re down where we are, the only way to go is up really,” third baseman Joanna Gail said.
The schedule called for Oregon (28-20, 1-9 Pacific-10 Conference) to play Oregon State (26-21, 4-6) again on Saturday, but with rain in the forecast, coaches agreed to postpone the game until Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Before the postponement had been announced, Gail reflected on the loss and the next game with Oregon State.
“We always love playing the Beavers just because they’re always great games,” she said. “We were pumped about it of course and disappointed with the outcome, but it’s going to be one of those games (Saturday) where we really are able to show our heart and passion and come back with a win.”
Oregon fell behind early in the first inning following two questionable on-field rulings that led to delays while Ducks coach Kathy Arendsen talked with the umpires about runner interference.
Leadoff hitter Dani Chisholm started off Oregon State’s three-run first inning by reaching base on an error by Oregon’s Cortney Kivett. McKenna Lowe hit a chopper over pitcher Brittany Rumfelt that was fielded by Kivett, who after seeing the runner make it safely to first, tried for home but was high and too late, allowing Chisholm to score and give the Beavers a 1-0 lead.
The game paused as Arendsen argued with the umpires.
“We felt that the runner had interfered with our shortstop,” Arendsen said. “(The third base umpire) saw it as our shortstop obstructing the runner. We believe that the fielder has first right to the ball and not the runner having first right to the baseline.”
After a walk to Cambria Miranda, Audrey Roderfield hit a ball toward shortstop Lovena Chaput, who grabbed the ball while also having to sidestep an oncoming Lowe, making her throw to second base late. Again, Arendsen came onto the field and argued unsuccessfully.
Rumfelt caught a pop-up and Erin Guzy hit a two-run single in the next at-bat to put Oregon State up 3-0.
The lack of Oregon offense overshadowed another pitching gem by freshman Brittany Rumfelt (5-2), who allowed three runs while striking out four and walking three.
“I actually really like when she’s in the circle because we get a lot of ground balls and our defense plays really well,” Gail said. “Brittany pitched really well.”
Oregon State received a one-hitter courtesy of pitcher Kelly Dyer (17-16), a Churchill High graduate, who also earned the win in the Beavers’ 7-4 win in the first game of the Civil War series in Eugene.
Dyer threw 10 strikeouts in allowing only a third-inning single to Neena Bryant, who brought in Sari-Jane Jenkins for Oregon’s only run of the afternoon.
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