Oregon softball pitcher Melissa Rice allowed no runs on only three hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings Tuesday before a crowd of 443 at Howe Field.
Unfortunately for Rice, she was handed the ball down two runs, with two outs and runners on second and third.
While she didn’t allow a run, neither did Oregon State starting pitcher Brianne McGowan, who earned a 2-0 victory for the seventh-ranked Beavers (29-3, 2-1).
McGowan struck out eight, walked one and gave up two infield singles.
“McGowan is tough,” said
Oregon coach Kathy Arendsen, whose Ducks fell to 17-12 overall and 0-2 in Pacific-10 Conference play. “Give her a lot of credit; she pitched very well.”
McGowan, who improved to 17-2, also accounted for the Beavers’ offense, knocking a first-pitch two-run single over Oregon third baseman Joanna Gail’s head in the first inning.
Cambria Miranda opened the game with a screaming line out before Mia Longfellow stroked a double. Longfellow was tagged out after Adrienne Alo’s line drive slapped off Gail’s glove and into the air. Oregon shortstop Breanne Sabol was able to snag it off of a bounce and fire it to Suzie Barnes for the tag on Longfellow at second. Vanessa Iapala drilled a double off the left-center wall before McGowan’s at-bat.
Oregon starting pitcher Alicia Cook induced DeAnn Young to groundout to end the inning.
Rice replaced Cook in the second inning. Cook lasted 1 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits.
Rice, whose most difficult task was her first out, threw three straight balls. It appeared the situation would end with a walk to Stefanie Ewing, but that changed with a high strike called. Ewing grounded out on the next pitch and Rice allowed only one runner to reach third base the rest of the game.
“I thought Melissa Rice did a great job,” Arendsen said. “She is definately a Pac-10 pitcher. She has proven that every day. She’s been there to pick us up when we’ve really needed her. She has not been a typical freshman out there. She’s done a great job.”
The freshman pitcher made her 10th appearance in relief and improved upon her 1.85 ERA.
“Mentally, I was prepared to throw,” Rice said. “It’s kind of how you have to approach every game. I was mentally there, I just didn’t know whether or not I would go in.”
Meanwhile, the defense sparkled, turning two double plays and not committing an error.
“Our defense was brilliant,” Arendsen said. “I think that was one of the best defensive outings that I’ve seen all year from any team.”
Sari-Jane Jenkins was the only Duck to reach scoring position. With one out in the third, Jenkins knocked an infield single and reached second after the ball was thrown in the dirt.
Beth Boskovich led off the seventh with a four-pitch walk, but wasn’t moved forward as McGowan retired the next three hitters.
“We’re still waiting for our offense to help us out,” Boskovich said. “We’ve got a lot of hitters that are just missing it and a lot of hitters that might be taking on a little too much pressure.
“I think we are on the brink, we are right on the bubble. Whoever it happens against, I almost feel bad for them because we’re about ready to explode.”
Oregon travels to the Bay Area for a game against California on Friday and two games against Stanford on Saturday and Sunday.

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