April 28, 2006

Corvallis, OR (CSTV U-WIRE) -- Revenge is on the mind of the OSU softball team.

In a repeat match up of a game earlier this season, the No. 8 Beavers will meet up with the No. 7 California Bears on Friday at 3 p.m. in Corvallis. The last time OSU and Cal played, Cal walked away with a 2-0 win in both games in Berkeley.

"We're coming in with a little bit of revenge, and a lot of focus," said OSU coach Kirk Walker. "We didn't feel like we played our game or played confidently or aggressively when we were there. We can control what we bring to the field and hopefully if we do that we'll be able to come out with a win at the end of the day."

The Beavers are coming off doubleheader victories over the University of Oregon Wednesday, which came after an outstanding weekend on the road. OSU knocked off No. 1 UCLA 2-0 at the Bruins' place on Friday, April 21, and then traveled to Seattle and beat No. 14 Washington 3-2 and 5-0 in two games.

"After this last weekend I know we're all pumped up because we beat the No. 1 team in the nation and we're all excited and trying to carry that momentum over into each game," said sophomore utility player Cambria Miranda.

The Beavers will look to build from Miranda's momentum. Miranda has hit home runs in five consecutive games for OSU and was last week's Pac-10 player of the week.

"We can't have as many strikeouts as last time," said senior first baseman Vanessa Iapala. "I think those games (against Cal and Stanford last time) helped us because you have to lose to learn."

"The key for us is their pitchers," Miranda added. "We struggled against their pitcher when we played them and we didn't hit it and struggled at the plate a little bit. We need to hit the ball hard this time."

The Bears have not played a game since last Sunday, when they defeated Arizona 5-1 in Berkeley.

"In the Pac-10 you can't let your confidence allow you to get in any kind of comfort zone," Walker said. "In this conference everyone is so good we could easily go out and beat a team 8-0 or we could easily go out and lose to a team 8-0."

Saturday and Sunday, the Stanford Cardinal will be in town. The Beavers will try to avenge a 3-2 loss to the Cardinal from earlier this season. Stanford has also not played since last Sunday, when they lost to Arizona State 3-1.

"I know we really want that Stanford game back," Miranda said. "They beat us in the last inning there and we're going to go out and bring it."

Saturday and Sunday's game against Stanford will both start at 1 p.m.

(C) 2006 OSU Daily Barometer via CSTV U-WIRE