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University of Texas-San Antonio (35-23, 15-11 in the WAC) at #3 Oregon St. (45-10, 24-6 in the Pac-12) / 5 PM / Goss Stadium / ESPN3 / KEJO 1240 AM & KPOJ 620 AM
Game Notes / Gametracker / ESPN3 Stream (ISP Dependent)
Pac-12 Champion Oregon St. opens NCAA Regional play against UT-San Antonio, the winner of the WAC Tournament, tonight at Goss Stadium.
The Beavers are 18-3 all-time in post-season games in Corvallis, and are making their 14th appearance. It's the 5th year in a row, and 8th time in the last 9 seasons, that Oregon St. under head coach Pat Casey, this year's Pac-12 Coach of the year, has earned a berth in the NCAA playoffs.
The Roadrunners finished 4th in the WAC, but then rolled undefeated through their conference tournament, earning an automatic berth in the post-season themselves.
Oregon St. will open their quest for Omaha, and first a return engagement next weekend at Goss in the Superregionals, with third team All-American and All-Pac-12 senior LHP Matt Boyd (10-3, 2.09), their usual Friday night guy, on the mound.
UTSA head coach Jason Marshall appears to be making his first strategic move in an attempt to maneuver through the tough Corvallis regional by not going with his best pitcher first, his regular Friday night guy, freshman RHP Brock Hartson, opting instead for a lefty against the righty-loaded Beaver lineup. The Roadrunners announced they will go with freshman LHP Nolan Trabanino (4-3, 4.57), who has been the 3rd starter in their rotation.
Tonight's winner will face UC-Santa Barbara (35-23) tomorrow evening at 5 PM, while the loser will meet Texas A&M (32-28) at noon in an elimination game. The third seeded Gauchos, coached by former Oregon St. player and Oregon assistant Andrew Checketts, upset the second seeded Aggies 6-4 in today's first game.
Oregon St. head coach Pat Casey is staying with the usual starting lineup, but has Ryan Barnes ahead of Danny Hayes today. Here's the Beaver batting order:
Tyler Smith-SS
Andy Peterson-2B
Michael Conforto-LF
Dylan Davis-RF
Ryan Barnes-DH
Danny Hayes-1B
Kavin Keyes-3B
Jake Rodriguez-C
Max Gordon-CF
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com