Oregon State sweeps Stanford in Super Regional to earn WCWS spot
For just the second time in program history, Oregon State is going to the Women’s College World Series.
The Beavers (39-20) clinched a spot in the WCWS for the first time since 2006 and only the second time ever with a 2-0 shutout win at Stanford on Saturday to sweep the best-of-three Super Regional and move on. Dating back to the Knoxville regional, the Beavers have now won five straight.
𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐎𝐊𝐂!!!!!@BeaverAthletics @NCAASoftball #SuperBeavs #RoadToWCWS pic.twitter.com/mxeCajjYso
— Oregon State Softball (@BeaverSoftball) May 29, 2022
Sarah Haendiges earned the win, her 13th of the season, with four and a third innings allowing just four hits and no earned runs. She struck out a pair of Cardinal batters to stay unbeaten this postseason.
Senior Mariah Mazon came on and logged the save, pitching two and two-thirds innings without a hit while striking out two.
The Beaver offense got rolling right away. Kiki Escobar singled to left-center on the leadoff and advanced to second with an Eliana Gottlieb single to left field. Grace Messmer scored the pair of freshmen with a two-RBI single through the left side.
With the defense working well and Haendiges in command, that proved to be enough. After the Cardinal loaded the bases in the fifth, Mazon retired the final two batters with a pair of clutch strikeouts.
Haendiges, Mazon, and the Beaver defense combined for four three-up-three-down innings, including the final two frames to seal the victory.
The Beavers will head to Oklahoma City to face the winner of the Blacksburg Super Regional. Virginia Tech and Florida play Sunday in a winner-take-all Game 3.