Note: For all off you who are aching to talk about football and the Spring Game, Noghri_ViR should be stopping by to drop some knowledge later in the day. Hold tight for his Spring Game analysis.
The last several days have been reminiscent of the Great Flood here in the Northwest, where rain, thunder, and everything else has been a frequent sight. The good news is that a layer of plastic exists between Joe Etzel Field and mother nature, so one can only hope that the rain holds for a little over three hours this afternoon, or long enough for the Beavers and Pilots to play nine innings in the Rose City.
After all, it's off to Safeco Field for the Beavers after Tueday's scheduled game with Portland, where rain delays just don't happen.
The Pilots enter the game at 22-20 on the season, having come off a Friday victory over Concordia 7-3 on Friday in non-conference action.
The Beavers and Pilots played three times last season, but are only scheduled to play one game this season. Oregon State won all three contests in 2008, and leads the all-time series 131-56-1. The last time the Beavers played at Joe Etzel Field last March, Joey Wong went 5-for-6 and the Beavers went on to win 16-0.
The Pilots took the first game of a three-game series at 28th-ranked San Diego during the weekend of April 24-26. winning 12-4 on Friday. San Diego then took both games during the weekend, winning 13-3 on Saturday and 17-7 on Sunday.
Left hander Scott Burris (4-3, 4.47 ERA) is schedule to start the game for the Pilots, and Freshman right-hander Sam Gaviglio (6-1, 3.37) will get the nod for the Beavers. Sam has made just two starts on the year, but leads the team in wins. Burris will be making a team-high eleventh start against the Beavers.
Following the non-conference midweek game with the Beavers, the Pilots will host Peppderdine for a three game series this weekend. The Beavers, meanwhile, will be traveling to Seattle to play the Huskies. Friday's game is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. from Safeco Field, with Saturday and Sunday's game beginning in the early afternoon at Husky Ballpark.
--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)