Gazette-Times

HONOLULU — Oregon State managed nine hits, but left too many runs unscored as the 14th-ranked Beavers lost to Hawaii 4-2 in the championship game of the Hawaiian Airlines Spring Fling Softball Tournament on Saturday night.

The Beavers (15-9) strung together three straight two-out singles in the bottom of the first inning, but did not score. They left five runners stranded through the first three innings.

A third inning lead-off walk proved costly for OSU as Hawaii took a 1-0 lead when Stacey Yamada scored after a single up-the-middle from Kaulana Gould.

Oregon State answered in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking advantage of a walk by freshman Alana Ford. Ford stole second base with two outs and tied the score at 1-1 when sophomore second baseman Paige Lowe lofted a single into shallow right-center.

Hawaii took command of the game by scoring three runs in the top of the fifth.

Beavers pitcher Brianne McGowan (8-5) had retired five straight batters before Claire Warwick sent the first pitch she saw sailing over the center field fence.

After a two-out single by Kaulana Gould, Tyleen Tausaga stepped to the plate and blasted a home run over the left field fence, giving Hawaii a 4-1 advantage.

Back-to-back hits up-the-middle by McGowan and Sherina Galvan gave OSU new life in the bottom of the fifth and the Beavers got one run back when pinch runner Kellie Roberts scored on a ground-out by Ford.

Natalie Johnson’s sixth inning single was the only other hit the Beavers would got in the game.

OSU had three players earn All-Tournament status as freshman Tarah Black, Lowe and Johnson each were honored.

After 24 consecutive games on the road, the Beavers will play their first game of the year in the state of Oregon next week during the Cascade Clash. OSU opens action with a doubleheader with Portland State starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Erv Lind Stadium.

Hawaii 4, Oregon State 2

HAWAII 001 030 0 — 4 7 0

OREGON STATE 000 110 0 — 2 9 0

Smethurst and Yamada; McGowan and Black. WP: Smethurst (10-3). LP: McGowan (8-5). HR: Warwick (UH), Tausaga (UH). 2B: Miranda (OSU).