Arizona knocks fellow Pac-12 member Oregon State out of WCWS

OKLAHOMA CITY — Carlie Scupin had three hits and Arizona defeated fellow Pac-12 member Oregon State 3-1 in a Women’s College World Series elimination game on Friday night.

Arizona coach Caitlin Lowe claimed her first World Series victory in her first season since replacing the retired Mike Candrea. Under Candrea, the Wildcats won eight national titles.

This Arizona team took a different road than previous ones. The Wildcats (39-21) lost their first eight conference games this season and finished tied for last in the league before turning things around.

Hanah Bowen (14-11) got the win with two innings of shutout relief. Arizona advanced to play the loser of Saturday’s Oklahoma-Texas game in an elimination game on Sunday.

Oregon State’s Mariah Mazon, a NFCA third-team All-American pitcher, did not play for undisclosed reasons in Thursday’s loss to Florida.

Arizona finally got to her in the sixth inning. Scupin doubled to score Amber Toven. Then, Blaise Biringer singled to drive in Giulia Koutsoyanopulos, giving the Wildcats a 3-1 lead.

Mazon (17-12) gave up six hits in six innings.

Oregon State (39-22) got two runners on with two outs in the seventh, but did not score.