Oregon State (6-4, 0-0) vs. Saint Louis (6-4, 0-0) - 10 AM PST - Surprise Stadium, Surprise Stadium
Note: Radio in the Willamette Valley will be on KTHH 990 AM, due to the conflict with today's basketball coverage on KEJO 1240 AM.
Both the Beavers and the Saint Louis Billikens won yesterday, OSU knocking off Winthrop, and SLU defeating St. Mary's 2-0.
The Beavers starter will be Cole Baylis (0-1, 9.72) and the Billikens will have Clay Smith (1-1 0.98) starting on the mound. Oregon St. will be the "visitor" today.
Final Score - Box score
Winthrop 4
OSU 9
Yesterday, the Beavers had Dan Child start, and he did well, scattering 3 hits over 7 innings, giving up 3 runs, but all of them were unearned. He walked 2, while striking out 8. Winthrop starter Eric Ruth threw 5.1 innings, surrendering 3 runs on 5 hits. He walked and struck out 5 Beaver batsmen.
The Beavers jumped to a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning, in which Ryan Dunn hit a 2-out double, and was driven in on a Jake Rodriguez single, as J-Rod continues to heat up. The Beavers added on in the 3rd, capitalizing on having 2nd and 3rd with nobody out after a John Tommasini walk and Ryan Barnes double, as Michael Conforto hit a sacrifice fly to center, giving the Beavs a 2-0 lead.
OSU had a similar situation in the 5th, after Tommasini and Barnes walked, and were promptly balked over to 2nd and 3rd, this time with one out. But unfortunately, the Beavers couldn't cash in this time, after a Kavin Keyes strikeout, intentional walk of Conforto (respect for the true freshman), and Dylan Davis groundout. Davis, however, would redeem himself later.The Beavers extended their lead once again in the 6th, as pinch-hitter Max Gordon bunted in Danny Hayes from 3rd, giving the Beavers a 3-0 lead. OSU had a chance to pile on more runs, but a bases-loaded strikeout from Tommasini followed by a double-play by Barnes ended the inning.
The Eagles tied the game in the 7th, after a leadoff double and, just like last game, a Danny Hayes error, put runners on first and third with nobody out. Child didn't help himself, hitting the next batter to load the bases, and it looked like the Beavs could escape relatively unscathed, but couldn't turn a double-play fast enough, allowing the Eagles to get one back. After another Dan Child walk to load the bases, a single up the middle was slowed down by Tommasini, and centerfielder Max Gordon picked up the ball and threw the batter out at 2nd, but not before 2 runs could score, tying the game at 3-3.
The Beavers retook the lead after a Keyes single (Tyler Smith pinch-ran for him), Davis infield hit, and Hayes walk loaded the bases with one out. Dunn hit a sacrifice fly to drive home Smith, but again the Beavs couldn't add on, and it was a 4-3 ballgame headed to the 8th.
Taylor Starr relieved Child to start the inning, but Matt Boyd replaced him after a walk and SAC bunt. A Boyd wild pitch moved the runner to 3rd, and a sacrifice groundout tied the game. After a double and infield hit, Boyd was replaced by Tony Bryant, who got a strikeout to end the inning.
Oregon State wouldn't be denied in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with nobody out after a Tommasini single, Barnes walk (they set the table well all day), and Tyler Smith bunt single. Conforto walked, and Davis hit a 2-run single, giving the Beavers a 7-4 lead, still with nobody out. Hayes hit a groundball to third, but it was mishandled, and Ryan Dettman, who was running for Conforto, scored from 2nd. Dunn hit a sacrifice fly, extending the lead to 5 runs, and the scoring for the day was finished.
Bryant breezed through the 9th, earning himself a win, and the Beavers moved to 6-4 on the season.
Go Beavers!