Oregon State Ices Utah

Oregon State used a big 8 run 5th inning and a pretty solid pitching performance to "Ice" Pac-12 Conference foe Utah 10-2 in a non-conference contest Monday in Surprise, AZ.

Specifically, the 5th ranked Beavers' Logan Ice was the single biggest factor in both the inning and the game. Ice opened the bottom of the 5th in what was a scoreless pitchers' duel (a phrase not previously uttered at any time over the weekend in Surprise) to that point with a solo home run down the left field line, and capped the inning scoring with a 3 RBI triple that drove in Kyle Nobach, Caleb Hamilton, and Jack Anderson. Ice also iced a Ute runner who tried to steal second to help out defensively.

Meanwhile, Oregon State starter Luke Heimlich continued to roll along through the 6th, with the best pitching effort the Beavers have produced so far. Heimlich finally got in trouble in the top of the 7th inning, with a 1 out walk followed by a double by Andre Jackson.

Scotland Church came in, and though he lost both the base runners he inherited in scoring position on a 2 RBI single by Ute leadoff hitter Cody Scaggari, it was the only hit Church surrendered, and he went the rest of the way, for what became an 8 run Oregon State win after the Beavers tacked on single runs in both the 7th and 8th innings, as both Christian Donahue and Anderson delivered RBI singles when presented with an at bat with a runner in scoring position.

Overall, Oregon State hammered 5 Utah pitchers for 15 hits, including 3 total for extra bases, and though they did strike out 10 times, only stranded 8 base runners.

Utah only got 5 hits, and Heimlick struck out 7 on the way to the win. Church didn't get a save despite a solid relief effort only because the Beaver bats banged in so many runs.

Utah starter Josh Lapina, making his first career start, took the loss, after leaving 2 more runners on after Ice had homered, for KJ Harrison to drive in with a double off of Ute reliever Hunter Rodriguez.

It was the 17th win over Utah in the last 19 games against the Utes for Oregon State, as the Beavers improved to 3-1 after the first half of their 2 weekend+ stay in Surprise. Utah dropped to 1-3 for the weekend.

Both teams will stay in surprise this week, and both will face both Kansas and Kansas State twice apiece next weekend, in the Big XII-Pac-12 Challenge. The Beavers will get the Wildcats on Thursday and Friday, and the Jayhawks Saturday and Sunday.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com