CORVALLIS — Connie McMurren deserved to win this one.
The Oregon ace — shelled by Oregon State in her last outing 10 days earlier — allowed just four hits Tuesday against the 16th-ranked Beavers.
But it’s amazing how two pitches can change an entire game.
A first-inning, three-run jack off the bat of Oregon State’s Shawna Feldt and a seventh-inning, walk-off blast by Steph Adams were enough to propel the Beavers to their eighth straight Civil War victory, 4-3, and their third win in four games at the new OSU Softball Complex.
In between the two homers, however, “Connie Mac” was nothing short of remarkable — especially considering her struggles in the last month.
“I’ve just had this really, really bad run lately,” said McMurren, who is now 8-14 this season. “But to get past that first inning and pitch well was a huge boost for my confidence.”
For five and 2/3 innings — from the second to the seventh — McMurren allowed just two hits and no runs, while tallying three strikeouts and no walks.
“Connie did a fantastic job today,” head coach Rick Gamez said. “We wanted her to break out of her slump, and after the first inning, she held her composure and threw a great ball game. It was a hard-fought game and it really came down to those two pitches.”
After two quick outs to start the bottom of the seventh, the game appeared to be headed into extra innings when McMurren got ahead of Adams 0-2. But Adams fouled off a few pitches and worked the count full before blasting a McMurren fastball over the left field fence.
“It felt good,” Adams said. “Once I looked up and saw how high it was, I knew it was gone.”
Said McMurren: “I’ve known Steph since I was 12 years old, and I thought I had her this time. But [the ball] just kind of curved back over the plate and she got all of it. It was my fault.”

Regardless of who was at fault, the Ducks — losers of six straight — were just happy to be playing well and with some confidence.
“The team has finally pulled together,” McMurren said. “I’m really proud of this team. We’re finally having fun again.”
The Ducks (25-30 overall, 1-11 Pacific-10 Conference) had their opportunities offensively. Missy Coe’s first-inning single knocked in Lisa Wangler and Alyssa Laux to put Oregon up 2-0. After Feldt’s home run, Wangler scored in the third on an RBI single by Laux to tie the game at 3-3 and drive out Oregon State starting pitcher Monica Hoffman. Crystal Draper was called from the bullpen and struck out Andrea Vidlund to end the Ducks’ threat.
Coe single with one out in the sixth and senior Triawn Custer followed with a bloop double off the glove off Adams’ glove in left field. With runners on second and third, and still one out, Gamez signaled a safety squeeze to batter Janell Bergstrom, who got the bunt down, but in the process, pinch runner Anissa Meashintubby got caught between home and third and was tagged out trying to head back to the bag. The next batter, Kate Peterson, popped out to short to end the inning.
Draper (22-8), the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week, picked up the win after allowing just two hits while striking out five.
Oregon out-hit the Beavers 6-4 and did not commit an error.
“We really only had the one big hit,” Oregon State head coach Kirk Walker said. “We didn’t have a lot of clutch hitting today. It’s tough to rely on those home runs.”
The Beavers (36-16-1, 5-5) defeated No. 1 UCLA Friday in their inaugural game at the OSU Softball Complex and split with No.12 Washington.
The Ducks travel to Arizona to take on No. 8 Arizona State and No. 2 Arizona this weekend.