TAMPA – Oregon State plated five runs in the fourth inning Friday afternoon as Bethune-Cookman Softball fell to the Beavers by a score of 9-1 at USF Softball Stadium as part of the USF-Rawlings Invitational.
 
Bethune-Cookman (1-2) tied the game at 1-1 in the top-half of the third inning when Joyce Bloome, Joslynn Davis and Jessica Alaan all reached safely to begin the inning. Angelina Badalament scored Davis from third two plays later with Badalament's single through the left side past the glove of Savanah Whatley's dive at shortstop.
 
Oregon State (1-0) stepped ahead for good with a five-run fourth inning.
 
A two-out rally started for the Beavers when Madysin Clark singled back up the middle to bring in Abby Doerr from second after the OSU catcher walked to begin the at-bat. That put the Beavers up, 2-1.
 
After pinch hitter Kaiea Higa was walked to load the bases for the Beavers, second baseman Kiki Escobar walked in drawing an RBI allowing Grace Messmer to score on the play for the 3-1 lead. Designated player Lici Campbell walked on the next play, and that was all for BCU starting pitcher Halyne Gonzalez as freshman Sofia Vallejos-Coleman entered the pitcher's circle for her first collegiate action.
 
With the bases loaded and two away, Oregon State's Whatley scored on a wild pitch from Vallejos-Coleman. Two batters later, the Beavers added an additional run via the bases loaded walk that saw Escobar cross home safely.
 
Oregon State held a 6-1 lead after five innings complete.
 
The Beavers scored one more run in the fifth when Eliana Gottlieb doubled down the line in right, only to come around to score off the end of a Whatley RBI single to left center, advancing the OSU lead at 7-1.
 
Oregon State eventually closed the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a passed ball and a sacrifice fly by Charity Sevaaetasi, respectively
 
The Beavers took the first lead of the game in the second inning using a Sevaaetasi leadoff home run to plate the first run of the afternoon.
 
The win went to OSU starting pitcher Sarah Haendiges (1-0) as she worked four frames, allowing just the one run on four hits scattered to go along with three walks and three strikeouts. Ellie Garcia finished the game in the circle for the Beavers over the final two innings as she registered four strikeouts with no hits surrendered.
 
The loss was tagged to BCU starter Gonzalez, evening her record at 1-1 for the season after yesterday's season-opening win against Illinois State. The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason Pitcher of the Year tossed 3.2 innings, giving up six runs on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts on the day. In reserve action, Vallejos-Coleman went two complete innings with three runs allowed (two earned) on three hits and two walks.
 
The offense for the Beavers was paced by seven different batters with a hit, including a multi-hit day for Clark with a 2-for-3 effort, adding a run and an RBI to her credit. BCU's offense was geared up by Badalament, as the Plant City, Florida native had a 12-for-3 showing at the plate with an RBI as well.
 
The Wildcats return to action Saturday morning back at the USF-Rawlings Invitational against Michigan at 9 a.m.
 
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