Oregon State Baseball Batters Washington State Quickly

The game started a half hour late Thursday night, a result of a passing hail storm, and there was still a driving rain falling throughout the first inning at Bailey-Brayton Stadium in Pullman. By the time the skies cleared, and the temperatures dropped into the low 40s, 7th ranked Oregon State had already thrown as much cold water on Washington State as the passing storm had.

Jack Andersen got the Beaver scoring started with a 3 RBI double, and went on to 3rd on the too late throw to the plate. Andersen also scored to make it 4-0 before the Cougars even picked up a bat.

Oregon State added 5 more in the top of the second, with all 9 runs coming with 2 outs, as the Beavers came through with clutch at bat after clutch at bat.

KJ Harrison delivered a 2 RBI double, and Logan Ice followed by driving him in. Kyle Nobach also had a 2 RB hit in the big at bat.

Washington State broke up the shutout in the bottom of the 2nd, but the Beavers had the Cougs 10-runned in the top of the 3rd, with 2 more runs, and expanded their lead to 12-1 in the top of the 4th.

Credit the Cougs with clawing out a couple of runs, and keeping the Beavers from doing further damage, especially with essentially no fans in the frigid stands, and temperatures tumbling into the 30s. But tonight was an example of why Washington State is in last place in the Pac-12.

The Cougs got their leadoff hitter on 5 of the first 6 innings, to no effect. The Beavers lead the Pac-12 in batting average, and the Cougars are last in the conference in opponent's batting average allowed, though they actually eventually out-hit Oregon State by the time the night was over, though not in bunches. And Washington State pitching issued 10 walks, against only 1 by the Oregon State staff.

That produces outcomes like tonight's 12-3 final.

Former Oregon State assistant Marty Lees, in his first year as the Washington State coach, and Dan Spencer, another former OSU assistant who is Lees' top assistant in Pullman, need to recruit some talent.

Travis Eckert, despite some nonsensical non-disclosure before the game, got the start, after missing last week's outing against Central Arkansas to avoid risking his back following having to leave a week earlier, and got the win, going 7 innings, and improved to 4-2 for the season.

Bryce Fehmel finished things out for the Beavers.

Trenton Dupree, who was making just his second start, dropped to 0-3 after absorbing the loss.

Oregon State, which came in having won 5 in a row, and 5 series in a row, against Washington State, improved to 23-7, and 6-4 in the Pac-12. The Cougars dropped to 10-20, and 3-10 in conference. The Beavers, now having that 6th win, will try to get a 6th series against WSU when the teams meet again Friday afternoon.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com