stayed alive in the Tuscaloosa Regional on Saturday night, shutting out Middle Tennessee State 4-0 in an elimination game that took place long after it was scheduled due to a weather delay of more than three hours earlier in the day.
The Beavers (29-27) earned a rematch with Wisconsin (29-22), which upset Oregon State in extra innings on Friday to open the tournament, in a late game on Saturday, with the winner advancing to face Alabama in the regional final. The Oregon State-Wisconsin winner will have to defeat the Crimson Tide twice to advance to the super regional round of the NCAA Tournament.
Oregon State rode the pitching of right-handler Meehra Nelson, who retired 14 batters in a row in a span that started in the second inning and ended in the seventh with a single by Kristin Usleton. She pitched to three batters over the minimum, allowing a single to Precious Birdsong in the first. Nelson struck out three batters with one walk.
The Beavers pounded out nine hits, with Shelby Weeks going 3-for-3 and scoring three runs. McKenna Arriola and Alysha Everett each hit a double, with Arriola adding a single.
Middle Tennessee State, which earned an automatic bid by winning the Conference USA Tournament, finished 39-21.
