#23 Oregon State (1-0, 0-0) @ UCSB (0-1, 0-0) - 11:00 AM PST (Game 1), 2:30 PM PST (Game 2) - Santa Barbara, CA - 620 KPOJ
Note: Game one will be a 7-inning game, followed by a 9-inning nightcap. Cole Baylis will start game one, and Dan Child will start game two. Both are sophomores.
The Beavers knocked off UCSB 7-3 on Friday afternoon, and performed as well as anyone could expect for the first game. Sophomore Ben Wetzler got the start and the win, going 5.1 innings, surrendering 3 earned runs on 6 hits, while recording one strikeout, walk, and hit batsmen. The Gaucho's starter, Matthew Vedo, took the loss on the day, giving up 5 runs (3 earned) over 4 innings, walking 6 batters while striking out 8.
The first inning of the season was a frustrating one for Oregon State. After a leadoff single by Ryan Barnes, the Beavers loaded the bases on back-to-back walks by Kavin Keyes and Ryan Dunn. Unfortunately, the Beavers couldn't score a run, as Jake Rodriguez, Sam Montgomery, and freshman Dylan Davis (New season, new names!) followed with two strike outs and a fly out.
The Beavers bats flexed their muscles, in true Oregon State fashion, in the 4th, when they scored 5 runs on 2 hits. With one out, DH Dylan Davis hit a groundball to shortstop, but reached 2nd base when the throw got by the first basemen. Danny Hayes and Joey Matthews walked, setting the stage for redshirt senior John Tommasini to hit a two-run double into the gap in left-center. Ryan Barnes walked, loading the bases, and Kavin Keyes was hit by a pitch, forcing in the third run of the inning. Ryan Dunn struck out, but J-Rod made up for his first inning strikeout, hitting a 2-RBI single into right.
The Gauchos fought back, scoring 3 runs over the course of the next two innings. In the 5th, UCSB scored on a leadoff double, sacrifice groundout, and 2-out RBI bunt base hit. The next inning started with back to back doubles, pushing the score to 5-2. Wetzler then induced a groundball out, but the next batter singled up the middle, scoring a run, and knocking Wetzler out of the game. New pitcher Taylor Starr faced two batters with mixed results, a single and a flyout, before being replaced by junior Cole Brocker, who walked the first man he faced, before ending the inning with a strikeout.
Matt Boyd replaced Brocker with one out in the 7th, and threw 1.2 scoreless innings.
The Beavers scored twice in the 8th, despite not getting a single hit in the inning. A Barnes walk, followed by Keyes getting hit for the second time in the game (and in all actuality, the second time in the at bat), leading to what's known as an Opening Day play. Ryan Dunn laid down a SAC bunt, but the pitcher threw the ball away, scoring both runners. That wasn't the end of the fun, however, as Dunn tried to stretch it all the way to third, but was thrown out.
Scott Schultz came on in the 9th to finish the game, and did just that, walking one and striking one out to close it out.
The Beavers played three freshman, with Jordan Dunatov pinch running, Michael Conforto pinch hitting, and Dylan Davis starting at DH. Expect to see more freshman play Saturday, especially if a game gets out of hand.
Go Beavers!