Softball win streak screeches to halt

Oregon State ended the Wildcats' 47-game win streak in the semifinals.

The Beavers did it in defensive fashion shutting out the Wildcats (30-1 overall, 4-0 in conference) 3-0 on the campus Cal State-Fullerton.

The loss has no bearing on the Wildcats' first place standing in the Pacific 10 Conference.

Similar to the game earlier in the season in which Arizona beat Washington - also a Pac-10 team - 7-3 at the Wildcat Invitational on Feb. 9.

Officially, Oregon State and Arizona will play for the first time in conference play on April 13 in Corvallis, Ore.

The Wildcats eight run-ruled Ohio State and Oklahoma State, 15-6 and 13-0, respectively. They beat Hawaii 6-5 to advance.

Arizona pounded UNLV, 17-0 in the first game of the championship bracket.

In the quarterfinals on Saturday, UA needed a mistake to beat Cal State-Northridge. Through seven innings the game was scoreless, and due to the international tie-breaker rule, Lisa Pitt began the inning on second base. When Brandi Shriver singled, Pitt went for home and was thrown out, but Shriver made it to second safely. Julie Reitan singled to move Shriver to third. Michelle Churnock hit a ball to the third baseman. In the subsequent run-down, Northridge catcher Jennifer Parker interfered with Shriver, and Arizona was awarded the run and the 1-0 victory.

Arizona pitcher Nancy Evans earned the win to up her record to 16-0. The game was also her fourth-straight shutout.