The Oregon State Beavers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 5-1 on Saturday afternoon to set up a date with host Tennessee in the Knoxville regional final.

It was the second time in as many days that the Beavers have won the battle between the two OSUs.

Unlike yesterday where the Beavers escaped by just one run, Saturday’s contest had much more breathing room.  From the outset Oregon State put their foot on the gas, starting when Oregon State senior pitcher Mariah Mazon drilled a two-run homer to center field in the bottom of the first inning.

In the very next inning, Oregon State freshman infielder Savanah Whatley hit an rbi double to left-center, scoring sophomore Madison Simon and giving the Beavers a 3-0 lead.

Although the Buckeyes got a run back in the fourth, the Beavers responded with a dagger in the bottom of the fifth.  With  Mazon on first and one out, Oregon State junior infielder Frankie Hammoude launched her fifteenth home run of the season, extending Oregon State’s lead to four.

It was all smooth sailing from there, as Mazon retired all six batters she faced after coming in to relieve Oregon State freshman pitcher Sarah Haendiges.

Mazon and Hammoude both went two for three at the plate, and each belted a home run.  As a team, the Beavers outhit the Buckeyes eight to three.

Haendiges picked up the win for Oregon State and was phenomenal in the circle, going five innings and allowing no earned runs.  Mazon did not allow a single base runner in two innings of relief.

With the win, Oregon State advances to the regional finals against Tennessee.  Being a double-elimination tournament, the Beavers will have to beat the No. 11 Volunteers twice in order to win the Knoxville regional.

Game one is set for 11 a.m. tomorrow, and game two (if necessary) will start at 1:30 p.m.