CORVALLIS, Ore. — San Diego Softball (13-17, 0-1 WCC) dropped its WCC opener on Friday night, falling to Oregon State (13-22, 1-0 WCC) by a 9-6 margin at Kelly Field. The Beavers jumped out to an early lead and withstood a five-run Torero rally in the fifth to secure the victory.

Kaylee Oh gave the Toreros a spark in the top of the second inning, booming the first pitch she saw over the left field wall against her former team to get USD on the board at 7-1. Kaitlyn Bartlow and Kelsey Tadlock combined to hold Oregon State to six hits through the remaining 5.1 innings of ball, keeping the Toreros in the game.

Heading into the top of the fifth inning down six runs, San Diego put together a five run inning that pulled them within one. Hailey Mulligan led off the frame with an infield single, before Carly Ruiz moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt. Kaitlyn Wynia then singled to put runners on the corners, before Mallory Axline knocked an RBI single that plated both runners and made it 7-3. An RBI double from Taylor Johnson plated Axline to make it 7-4, before Shawnese Hogue-Lacy delivered the biggest blow of the night, a two-run shot to center field that pulled her team within one run at 7-6.

San Diego could not push the tying run across, as the Beavers scored two runs in the sixth to push the lead to 9-6, one that they did not relinquish.

Axline went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, Johnson doubled twice and drove in a run, and Hogue-Lacy's two-run blast highlighted a night that saw the Toreros collect 10 hits. Ruiz contributed two hits in limited at-bats, and Wynia went 2-for-4 to continue her strong start of 2026.

The Toreros will be back in action tomorrow for the middle game of the three game set with the Beavers. First pitch at Kelly Field is set for 2:00 PM.