Spring Break
Softball set for Louisville Slugger Invitational in Vegas
Oregon State prepares for second week of season in Las Vegas with tournament opener against Cal State Fullerton
Kevin Nordlund
Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: Sports
Expectations are high for the Beavers heading into the Louisville Slugger Invitational this weekend in Las Vegas.
"We're hoping to go in and win four or five games," head coach Kirk Walker said. "We've won the tournament before and we want to do it again."
The Beavers split four games against four very good teams last weekend at the Cathedral City Kickoff Tournament in Cathedral City, Calif. This weekend they are hoping to build as a team and learn from their mistakes.
"Playing together last weekend really helped," senior infielder Paige Lowe said. "Now we know what we can improve on as a team."
The Oregon State softball team will kick off play on Friday at 9 a.m. against Cal State Fullerton. The Titans have won their only contest of the season and look to be a strong squad. The Beavers will then battle with the No. 16 DePaul Blue Demons on Friday afternoon at 11:15 a.m. DePaul has yet to play a game this season, and the Beavers have defeated the Blue Demons on two straight occasions.
Oregon State will resume play at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon against the Utah Utes, with whom the Beavers own an 8-7 all-time record, including wins the last four meetings. The Utes won their first three games, but have dropped two straight. Utah is led by junior outfielder Kara Foster, who is hitting .500 on the young season.
They will then play a 6 p.m. game on Saturday against a UC Davis team that has won three straight games. The Aggies dropped their only game against the Beavers in 2006.
The Beavers will conclude play on Sunday morning with an 11:15 game against the Thunderbirds of Southern Utah. The teams have played each other on eleven different occasions with the Beavers winning seven, the last coming in 2003.
The Thunderbirds are off to a rough start this season (1-4) but are being led by the Summit League Player of the Week, sophomore Darlene Fernandez, as well as junior left-handed pitcher Kristina Brooks.
The Beavers have some history with their opponents in Vegas, but Coach Walker is hoping to keep that out of the picture.
"Hopefully we can keep the intensity high and go in to each game ready to win," Walker said.
Oregon state looks to get their offense going this weekend in Vegas against some very good pitching. Senior Stefanie Ewing hit her first home run of the season and the ninth of her career last Sunday, while Lowe hit a home run of her own against Wisconsin.
The Beavers are also hoping to clean their game up a little bit on defense. They had five errors in their loss to Houston on Feb. 8.
"We have to limit our errors if we want to win in Vegas," junior pitcher Kelly Dyer said.
Confidence does not seem to be an issue for the Beavers as spirits are high after a strong week of practice. Lowe is no exception exclaiming, "We're gonna win!"
Kevin Nordlund, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
"We're hoping to go in and win four or five games," head coach Kirk Walker said. "We've won the tournament before and we want to do it again."
The Beavers split four games against four very good teams last weekend at the Cathedral City Kickoff Tournament in Cathedral City, Calif. This weekend they are hoping to build as a team and learn from their mistakes.
"Playing together last weekend really helped," senior infielder Paige Lowe said. "Now we know what we can improve on as a team."
The Oregon State softball team will kick off play on Friday at 9 a.m. against Cal State Fullerton. The Titans have won their only contest of the season and look to be a strong squad. The Beavers will then battle with the No. 16 DePaul Blue Demons on Friday afternoon at 11:15 a.m. DePaul has yet to play a game this season, and the Beavers have defeated the Blue Demons on two straight occasions.
Oregon State will resume play at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon against the Utah Utes, with whom the Beavers own an 8-7 all-time record, including wins the last four meetings. The Utes won their first three games, but have dropped two straight. Utah is led by junior outfielder Kara Foster, who is hitting .500 on the young season.
They will then play a 6 p.m. game on Saturday against a UC Davis team that has won three straight games. The Aggies dropped their only game against the Beavers in 2006.
The Beavers will conclude play on Sunday morning with an 11:15 game against the Thunderbirds of Southern Utah. The teams have played each other on eleven different occasions with the Beavers winning seven, the last coming in 2003.
The Thunderbirds are off to a rough start this season (1-4) but are being led by the Summit League Player of the Week, sophomore Darlene Fernandez, as well as junior left-handed pitcher Kristina Brooks.
The Beavers have some history with their opponents in Vegas, but Coach Walker is hoping to keep that out of the picture.
"Hopefully we can keep the intensity high and go in to each game ready to win," Walker said.
Oregon state looks to get their offense going this weekend in Vegas against some very good pitching. Senior Stefanie Ewing hit her first home run of the season and the ninth of her career last Sunday, while Lowe hit a home run of her own against Wisconsin.
The Beavers are also hoping to clean their game up a little bit on defense. They had five errors in their loss to Houston on Feb. 8.
"We have to limit our errors if we want to win in Vegas," junior pitcher Kelly Dyer said.
Confidence does not seem to be an issue for the Beavers as spirits are high after a strong week of practice. Lowe is no exception exclaiming, "We're gonna win!"
Kevin Nordlund, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
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