Just before hitting the road for Surprise, AZ, for 2 weekends to start the season, Oregon State coach Pat Casey has set the pitching rotation for his 5th ranked Beavers, at least for the first half of this first weekend, though he did at least identify which pitchers will finish out the weekend.

Sophmore RHP Drew Rasmussen, who Casey is counting on to be his Friday night starter all season, will get get the start in the opener at 1 PM AST (noon PST) Friday against Ball (and presumably bat) State from the MAC.

Saturday's 2 PM AST (1 PM PST) game against Utah Valley St. of the WAC will see the return of junior RHP Jake Thompson, who saw his season cut short last year due to injury.

Sunday at 1 PM AST (noon PST) Oregon State takes on Minnesota from the B1G Ten, and Monday at noon AST, (11 AM PST) the Beavers get an early look at Pac-12 league foe Utah.

Sophomore LHP Luke Heimlich and senior RHP Travis Eckert will get the starts, but Casey will wait to see what the opposition's lineups are looking like before deciding which one is the better matchup for each game.

There will be a couple of Beavs we won't see on the first weekend in Surprise, as Casey also confirmed that sophomore righty closer Mitch Hickey (back) and freshman outfielder Trevor Larnach will both miss all the action. Hickey is recovering from a back strain, and Lamach suffered a preseason foot injury. Both may or may not be back for the second weekend in Surprise, when the Beavers will take on Kansas State on Thursday and Friday of next week, and Kansas on Saturday and Sunday next weekend.

Redshirt freshman LHP Christian Martinek who is still recovering from a finger injury will be a spectator as well this weekend.

Also, sophomore outfielder Elliott Cary, who had Tommy John surgery last July, has not yet been medically cleared to play in games. He has been practicing though, and Casey hopes Cary will be available by the time Oregon State heads to San Diego for the third weekend of the season, but it will be a surprise if he sees action even next weekend in Surprise.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com