The Oregon State softball team defeated the Stanford Cardinal 3-1 on Friday night in the first game of the Super Regional series in Palo Alto.

In what was a defensive battle all the way through, the Beavers did all of their damage in the top of the second inning.

With one out and Oregon State junior infielder Frankie Hammoude on third, Oregon State sophomore infielder Grace Messmer delivered an RBI infield-single to shortstop, putting the visitors up by one.  The Beavers weren’t done there. In the following at-bat, Oregon State sophomore utility-player Madison Simon launched a two-run shot into left-center, putting Oregon State up 3-0.

The Cardinal got back into the game in the fourth inning when junior Sydney Steele doubled to left, scoring a run and cutting the lead to two.  The Beavers were able to wiggle out of a tough defensive spot in the bottom of the sixth, before sealing it out with a one-two-three ninth.

Aside from a big second inning, Oregon State senior pitcher Mariah Mazon was the story of game one.  After a stellar performance last weekend in Knoxville, Mazon threw a complete game on Friday night, surrendering just one run and striking out eleven.  It is Mazon’s seventeenth win of the season as a pitcher.

Offensively for Oregon State, Simon went two for three with a two-run homer. Oregon State  junior infielder Frankie Hammoude went two for three with a double, while senior Mazon,  Messmer and Oregon State freshman catcher Des Rivera also had hits.

With the result, Oregon State is just one win away from the College World Series.  The next game against Stanford is scheduled for tomorrow at 3 PM, in a best-of-three series.