/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59127631/usa_today_10116896.0.jpg)
Oregon State’s latest run through the Pac-12 began with a sweep of the Cal Bears in Berkeley last weekend. Now the Beavs return home to face that one purple team from Seattle. While the 10-8 Huskies have struggled a bit in this opening part of the year, they’re still a team with a lot of potential with one of the best pitchers in the entire country.
In the preseason, I talked a bit about what this team is capable of in a preview article. OSU should on their A game this weekend.
Projected starting pitchers are subject to change.
How To Watch
Friday and Sunday’s games will be televised on Pac-12 Networks. Saturday will be streamed here.
How To Listen
For a full list of radio stations across the state that will carry the games, check the game notes provided by OSU athletics. OSUBeavers.com will also have the audio all weekend.
Schedule
Game 1: Friday, Mar. 23 - 7:00 PM PT
Game 2: Saturday, Mar. 24 - 1:35 PM PT
Game 3: Sunday, Mar. 25 - 3:00 PM PT
Opponent Outlook
In my season preview, I said that UW could get back into the top four of the Pac-12. I still believe that. Technically they are right now thanks to a sweep of Arizona this past weekend to start their league schedule. It was just their second series win of the year including a 2-1 win over UC Riverside. They also split their opening series 2-2 with Sacramento State. They had wins against Illinois State, Minnesota, and Michigan State peppered in there as well.
The highlight of their season so far came in that UC Riverside series when Saturday starter Joe DeMers threw the first perfect game in program history. DeMers currently has the fourth-lowest ERA in the country at .35, which is also the lowest in the Pac-12. The junior has also allowed the fewest hits (9) and runs (3) in the league.
That being said, an injury may end up keeping him off of the mound.
Washington ace Joe DeMers, who exited his March 9 start after feeling a twinge in his hamstring and missed this past weekend, is questionable for this week at Oregon State. Huskies being cautious with him; will wait to see if he can go through his usual routine before deciding.
— Aaron Fitt (@aaronfitt) March 21, 2018
Sweep ⚾️
— Washington Athletics (@UWAthletics) March 19, 2018
Recap @UW_Baseball's three-game sweep over Arizona via #UWDataPoints to open Pac-12 competition.
>> https://t.co/xthZJMNLjc pic.twitter.com/fyIlp45pqs
Offensively, the Huskies could use a little help. They are seventh in the league in hits with 150, which 43 less than Oregon State at the moment. They’re also ninth in the league in runs with 74 compared to compared to OSU’s 121. Freshman outfielder Braiden Ward has his college career off to a fairly decent start with five stolen bases and a .268 batting average. Junior Mason Cerillo leads the team in batting average with a .382.
Like I said, there’s definitely potential and talent within these Huskies. It just seems to be a matter of execution...and getting the bats going.
In Conclusion
On paper, Oregon State is like the better team. That Saturday game against DeMers though is sort of worrisome, but Oregon State should take the series.
Come on back for the recaps as the games unfold. We will have stats in those, even though apparently, OSU doesn't like those...
I have received multiple inquiries about stats disappearing from OSU’s website, and apparently that decision was made by the coaching staff. The stats can still be accessed on the Pac-12 site.
— Bob Lundeberg (@The_Real_Bob) March 21, 2018