In a game that stretched over the course of two days and featured many rain showers, the Beavers fell 5-3 to Missouri State in Game 2 of the Pape Grand Slam at PGE Park.
The Beavers fell behind in the second inning, when Chris Playter's RBI double off of Oregon State starter Greg Peavey scored Brayden Drake from second base. Missouri State would add another run in the top of the third inning when Ben Carlson hit an solo home run to right field.
Greg Peavey went five and two thirds innings in the game, giving up three runs and five hits in his third start of the season. Peavey started the game off with seven straight strikes, as he retired the first three batters he faced in the first innings with strikeouts. He threw only ten pitches in the first inning. Mark Grbavac, who came on in relief of Peavey in the top of the sixth, recorded three outs, two of them strikeouts, in his time on the mound.
Kraig Sitton was on the mound when the game was suspended due to rain in the top of the seventh inning. Sitton's 2-0 pitch to Bear right fielder Ben Carson caused Carlson to lose grip on his bat, giving the home plate umpire reasonable evidence to suspend the game.
Upon resumption of the game on Sunday afternoon, Sitton stepped on the mound to throw a pick-off attempt to second base, but fired the throw into center field, allowing the two runners on base to move up to second and third. The Beavers then went to usual closer Kevin Rhoderick, who replaced Sitton before he even threw a pitch in Sunday's portion of the game.
Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the seventh, the Beavers came through with a rally to get them back into the game. Blake Gibbs led off the inning with a single, but then both Folsom and Lotti were retired in order. With two outs, pinch hitter Ryan Gorton walked, putting two on with two outs for John Tommasini. Tommasini doubled down the left field line, driving in both Gibbs and Gorton, cutting the Missouri State lead to just one run.
Kevin Rhoderick went back to work in the top of the eighth with some added run support. Rhoderick walked the lead-off batter in the inning, Brayden Drake, which proved to be a bad omen of things to come. He forced Chris Player to pop out to the catcher, then issued another walk to Trevor Rodgers. After that, Tyler Ryan got an infield base hit to load the bases with two outs. Then, Rhoderick walked two Bears with the bases loaded, which virtually countering the two runs the Beavers scored in the seventh inning.
It was James Nygren who came in from the bullpen to finish the game for the Beavers, recording four outs and striking out one batter.
Rob Folsom doubled down the left field line and advanced to third in a fielding error by Missouri State left fielder Zak Swyhart to start off the ninth inning, with the Beavers trailing by three. Logan Lotti and Ryan Gorton were both retired quickly, but Folsom would come home to score on a wild pitch by Aaron Meade.
The Beaver offense continued to struggle in this game, specifically in the early innings of the game played on Saturday. The Beavers struggled to string hits together. The Oregon State offense had six hits in the game, only getting two hits in two innings.
Game three of the Pape Grand Slam will be played this afternoon at PGE Park, with the Beavers desperately needing a strong offensive performance and a victory to end the Pape Grand Slam and clinch a series victory.
--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)