Beavers Pitching, Bats Knock Off D'Backs

Megen Ickler (2-1) gave up only two hits and struck out seven while pitching four innings of shut-out ball, and the Beaver bats came alive for 12 hits as the team evened its Vegas record at 1 - 1 with a 7-2 victory over Desert Oasis High School. The Beavers jumped on the D'Backs starter for 4 runs in the first two innings. In the top of the first, the Beavers scored when Natsuki Horikawa reached on an error by the Desert Oasis second baseman, and promptly stole second. Willow Martinson continued her hot hitting, following Horikawa with a single. After Kayla Lauro struck out, Freshman Megan John singled to center field, scoring Horikawa.

In the second inning, Caitlin Ellerbe bunted aboard with help from a throwing error. After Sam White popped out, Maddie Evans walked to give the Beavers runners on first and second with only one out. Hannah Johnson followed Evans, flying out to left field, and bringing Horikawa to the plate for the second time. Natsuki delivered a bloop single over the third baseman's head, scoring Ellerbe. With runners at first and second, Martinson crushed a pitch to deep left field, the ball landing in fair territory and running into deep foul ground. Evans and Horikawa scored, giving the Beavers a 4-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Ickler was making short work of the D'Backs, throwing only 9 pitches in the second inning, 15 in the third and 12 in the fourth. Molly Tyler came on in relief of Ickler for the fifth.
After retiring the first two batters, a walk and a double allowed the D'Backs to score their first run. Tyler then got the lead-off hitter to fly out to Hannah Johnson at second base.

A pitching change by Desert Oasis in the 4th paid dividends as the Beavers bats went silent in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. The team had only two hits and six strikeouts in those three innings after the pitching change.

The D'Backs continued to press their case in the home half of the sixth. After the first batter hit a come-backer to Tyler for a groundout, the next two batters walked and a wild pitch moved them to second and third. The next Desert Oasis batter singled, scoring the runner from third. Facing a first and third with one out situation, Tyler bore down getting a called third strike and a groundout to second.

With the score 4 -2, the pressure mounting and the home crowd fired up, the Beavers came to bat in the top of the 7th, looking for insurance runs. The inning got off to a slow start, with Martinson popping out and Lauro grounding out, both to first base. Ickler, apparently not satisfied with a dominating pitching performance, drilled a two-out triple to deep right field and the Beaver hit parade began in earnest. Ickler's hit was followed by singles from Gracie Coburn (plating Ickler), and Ellerbe. After Sam White drew a walk to load the bases, Maddie Evans laced a 2-1 pitch up the middle to score Coburn. Back to the top of the order, Hannah Johnson singled to score Ellerbe. A strikeout ended the inning with the Beavers extending their lead to 7 - 2

The D'Backs couldn't get anything going in the bottom of the 7th, going 3 and out to end the game. Ickler got the win and Tyler a save in the game. Beaverton's girls are back in action tomorrow in Las Vegas versus Spring Valley High School.