Oregon State 4
Gonzaga 3
Box Score
Oregon State kicked off the baseball season against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in Fresno on Saturday, winning 4-3 in 11 innings. The Beavers played a solid game, although at times they were sloppy, but that was to be expected in the first game of the season.
Junior Sam Gaviglio started the game for the Beavs, and threw a very nice game, pitching 6.2 innings while only giving up 2 unearned runs, both in the first inning. The unearned runs were a result of an error by starting shortstop Kavin Keyes, who graduated a year early from his high school in Utah, and must have had some jitters, as he made another error in the 6th inning. Luckily that one didn't result in another run.
It didn't take long for the Beavers to get on the board for the first time, when second-team All-American Andrew Susac drove in Matt Stamps with a single. Susac, who will be leaned on heavily by this Beavers team, was 2-3 with two walks, a double and a sacrifice bunt. Stamps would also score the winning run, a few batters after he tripled with one out in the 11th inning. Stamps is very fast, and he also bunted for a single. Unfortunately, he struck out three times, and if he made some contact he might be able to make something happen with his speed.
Parker Berberet got an RBI in the 5th, tying the game on a SAC fly that plated Garrett Nash. Berberet started the game at DH, and was pinch ran for in the 7th. Nash was 1-4 with 2 walks. But the Beavs weren't done in the 5th, as they took the lead on a Carter Bell single.
Matt Boyd was called in from the bullpen after Gaviglio hit a batter, and got the out to keep the Beavers ahead by one. Boyd didn't last long. With one out in the 8th inning, Ryan Gorton came in to pitch and walked a batter, loading the bases. With one out, Gorton got a strikeout, and in the next at-bat, Ryan threw what was called a passed ball, letting in another unearned run. Gorton struck out the next batter to end the inning.
The eventual winning pitcher Tony Bryant started off the 9th inning and pitched 3 hitless innings.
In the bottom of the 11th, Stamps hit a one-out triple. 3 batters later, with the bases loaded and two outs, Tyler Smith hit a walk-off single after working a full count. Smith was 1-4 with 2 walks on the day.
Overall, a very good start to this season. However, you won't be able to win on 3 unearned runs consistently, especially when you leave 12 men on base, not including the three technically left on base after the walk-off hit. Another stat that must improve is the 3-14 (.214) the Beavers went with RISP.
The Beavers play a doubleheader tomorrow, sending freshman lefty Ben Wetzler to the mound against Gonzaga at 1:00 P.M. Gonzaga's starter is left-hander Tyler Olson, who appeared in just 5 games last year, starting 3, with a 6.19 ERA. Oregon State plays Fresno State at 6:00, and another southpaw freshman, Cam Booser, will start for the Beavers against Tom Harlan, yet another lefty who's started 3 games total in his freshman and sophomore year, and had a 6.84 ERA last year.