Oregon State (5-4, 0-0) vs. Winthrop (1-8, 0-0) - 10 AM PST - Surprise Stadium, Surprise, AZ - KPOJ 620 (Not Streamed)
Oregon State looks to bounce back against Winthrop after losing 5-4 to Saint Mary's on Thursday.
The Beavers will send RHP Dan Child (0-1, 4.82) to the mound. The Eagles will pitch RHP Eric Ruth (0-1, 5.73). Oregon St. will also be the designated "home" team, the first time all season they won't bat first.
It's just the second meeting ever between Oregon St. and Winthrop. The Beavers downed the Eagles, 8-2 in 2005.
Yesterday, Winthrop whipped still winless Northern Illinois 14-7. Oregon St. will face the Huskies Sunday morning.
Final Score -- Box score
OSU 4
SMC 5
Ben Wetzler started on the mound for the Beavers Thursday, and he finished the day after throwing 5.2 innings. He scattered 6 hits across those innings, surrendering 4 runs, 3 of which were earned. He struck out 4 while walking two.
Martin Agosta pitched pretty well for the Gaels, giving up 4 runs over 5 innings, but striking out 6 Beavers while walking just 1.
Saint Mary's started off the scoring in the 2nd, which started with a leadoff single, followed by two sacrifice groundouts. After hitting an RBI single and stealing 2nd base, Chris Murphy was driven in on a double, making it 2-0 Gaels. It remained that way until the 4th.
With no outs in the top of the 4th, Kavin Keyes plated two with a bases-loaded double. After Jake Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, Ryan Dunn hit a SAC fly to give the Beavers a 3-2 lead. Max Gordon followed that up with an RBI single to extend the Beaver lead to 4-2.The Gaels didn't take long to respond, and cut the lead to one in the fifth thanks to some subpar Beaver defense. After a one-out double, Danny Hayes booted a groundball, and a batter later, J-Rod couldn't handle Wetzler's delivery, allowing Saint Mary's to score.
Wetzler's day was over in the bottom of the 6th, with two outs and first and second. Cole Brocker couldn't finish the inning, however, allowing an RBI single into right field, tying the game at 4. Unfortunately, it didn't stay that way for long, as Brocker's full-count delivery with one out in the 7th was deposited into the left field seats, giving the Gaels a 5-4 lead. Brocker went 2.1 innings, giving up 1 run on 2 hits, and taking the loss on the day.
The Beavers missed a huge opportunity to tie or take the lead in the 9th. Tommasini bunted over Dunn and Gordon, putting them at 2nd and 3rd with one out. Pinch-hitter Tyler Smith, who has been very clutch for the Beavers going all the way back to last year, struck out, and Ryan Barnes flew out to right to end the game. The Beavers still need to improve on making contact, as they finished the game with 10 strikeouts.
Go Beavers!