Butler, Ma’ake Homer in 11-3 Win Over OSU

Wednesday, March 4

Corvallis, OR

6:00 PM

University of Oregon

14-6

Oregon State

9-13

Oregon

Oregon State

03/04/26 | Softball

Box Score #18 Oregon 11, Oregon State 3

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Stefini Ma'ake homered twice and Elon Butler hit her second grand slam in less than a week to lead No. 18 Oregon past Oregon State, 11-3, on a rainy Wednesday night at Kelly Field.

Butler's home run gave Oregon (14-6) a 6-0 lead in the second inning. After the Beavers (9-13) cut the advantage to 6-3, Ma'ake's pinch-hit, three-run homer in the fifth made it 9-3. For good measure, she added a solo shot in the seventh.

Ayanna Shaw helped set the table at the top of the lineup. She went 4-for-4, scored twice and stole a base.

"I've been asking them to release the power," said coach Melyssa Lombardi. "You could see our lineup passing the bat all day. I thought Ayanna was unbelievable.

"Elon – we needed someone to break through and she comes through with a grand slam. Watching Stef come in, pinch-hit and hit a bomb. I just think it's infectious. These guys are going a great job swinging the bat."

How It Happened: The Ducks were off to the races from the first inning.

Shaw led off with a single, stole second and scored on Butler's double into to right center. The Ducks held a 1-0 lead before Oregon State came to bat.

The Ducks put some distance between themselves and the Beavers in the second inning.

Taryn Ho and Emma Cox led off with singles. Addison Amaral sacrificed both runners up a base. Katie Flanney walked to load the bases and Shaw knocked a run in with a single up the middle.

Butler came to the plate with the bases loaded and launched the first pitch she saw high into the night sky and out of the park to left.

"I trust myself," said Butler of her approach at the plate. "I trust my preparation. I've been playing this game for a long time and I just kind of tell myself, I'm that girl. I can do whatever I want to do."

Oregon led 6-0 after two innings but the Beavers fought their way back into the game.

In the bottom of the third inning, the first two OSU hitters reached on singles. Starter Lyndsey Grein struck out the next two batters, but surrendered a three-run home run to the Beavers' Lici Campbell.

It was the only blemish on the day for Grein, who gutted her way through 5.0 innings in and out of rain showers to improve to 7-3 on the season. She struck out nine and walked three.

Ma'ake made an immediate impact when she pinch-hit in the fifth inning.

Rylee McCoy walked and Amari Harper singled. Two outs later Ma'ake hit for Amaral and sent a 2-2 pitch over the fence in straightaway centerfield, boosting Oregon's lead to 9-3.

"Every bat matters," said Lombardi. "This game can flip that easily. And these guys know that. Stef has been working hard and so to see her get her swing off tonight twice was really nice."

The Ducks tacked on two more runs in the seventh, including Ma'ake's second homer of the day, a laser shot to left.

Butler then capped the scoring with her sixth RBI of the night, matching a career-best that she had Friday against Idaho State. Flannery and Shaw singled. An out later, Butler singled to right to bring the Ducks' 11^th run of the night home.

Notable: Elon Butler extended her hitting streak to 11 games, matching a career-high she set as a sophomore at California in 2024 … Butler has 20 RBI in her last seven games … Ayanna Shaw tied her career high with four hits and extended her hitting streak to six games … The top of the order – Shaw, Kaylynn Jones and Butler went 8-for-18 with seven RBI.

Quotable
Stefini Ma'ake on coming off the bench
"Honestly, I think it's keeping my foot on the gas pedal and knowing when my name is called, I gotta go. It's huge. This team brings energy. Power has been our thing, so it was bringing all that together today."

Up Next: The Ducks host the Jane Sanders Classic Friday through Sunday with Oregon State, Nevada and Sacramento State.