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OSU wraps up season with seventh-place Pac-10 finishOSU wraps up season with seventh-place Pac-10 finish

Oregon State struggles in one of nations' toughest conferences; team picks up wins over Oregon, then-No. 9 Arizona State Sun Devils

Maria Bruggere

Issue date: 5/14/09 Section: Sports

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Sophomore catcher Audrey Roderfeld swings at a pitch against UCLA. Roderfeld was recently named to the All-Pac-10 Second Team.

Now that its season has officially come to a close, the Oregon State softball team can look back on the 2009 season as a year of learning.

The Beavers finished in seventh place out of eight teams in the Pac-10 with a record of 4-17. Overall, the Beavers finished just under .500 with a 25-30 record. The Beavers were in one of the toughest conferences in 2009; every team was nationally ranked except for Oregon State and Oregon.

"You have ups and downs that make you a stronger team," senior infielder Paige Lowe said. "You have to take it in stride. We had a lot of close games and we have to learn from that."

The Beavers were 7-7 at home and 5-11 on the road. Their Pac-10 wins were two against Oregon, and one each against Cal and Arizona State.

The softball team will say farewell to five seniors this year: Paige Lowe, DeAnn Young, Stefanie Ewing, Kellie Roberts and Cristy Hatton.

"[The graduating seniors] definitely made their mark in the program," head coach Kirk Walker said.

Paige Lowe is said to be one of the senior leaders of the softball team by her fellow teammates, which includes sister McKenna. Paige Lowe finished out the season with a .312 batting average, 29 runs, 53 hits, nine home runs and 20 RBI. She started the entire season as second baseman.

"We've gone through our four years, and it's our time to be done," Lowe said.

Catcher Ewing is another who will be deeply missed. Sophomore Audrey Roderfeld will be taking over as the starting catcher after Ewing's departure. Ewing finished the 2009 season with a .282 batting average, 14 runs, 40 hits, six home runs and 31 RBI.

Young held a .211 batting average, five runs, 23 hits, one home run and 13 RBI.

Outfielder and leadoff hitter Ashley Sanchez finished with a .284 batting average, 17 runs, 40 hits, one home run and 10 RBI.

"It's such a great group of girls. I'm sad to be leaving them behind," Ewing said. "We always played because we loved the game, not because of the score."

Continued...

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