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The Beavers lost their second consecutive game on Thursday when they were defeated by Utah 8-7. OSU was the losing team in this one despite outhitting the Utes 13-8. Both teams committed an error on the day.
Flyout to right ends it.
— Oregon State Baseball (@BeaverBaseball) March 30, 2018
Utah takes game one of the series, 8-7.
Game 2 is Friday at 5 p.m. PT.
Oregon State scored first with an RBI single from Michael Gretler in the top of the second inning. Utah wasted no time getting that run back in the next frame with an RBI groundout by shortstop Matt Richardson.
Utah took the lead in the fourth inning when a run got through thanks to an error by Zak Taylor when a throw to him on a bunt eluded him. Utah’s catcher Chris Rowan followed it up with a two-run double in the next at-bat to make it 4-1.
The offensive highlight of the night for Oregon State came in the top of the fifth. Trevor Larnach blasted a grand slam to center field to give OSU a 5-4 lead.
That's how you erase the deficit.
— Oregon State Baseball (@BeaverBaseball) March 30, 2018
That's how you take the lead! #GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/Ko9kXy8H0I
That's 8 home runs, 2 grand slams and 34 RBI on the year for Mr. Larnach.#GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/3JMJZEoiM9
— Oregon State Baseball (@BeaverBaseball) March 30, 2018
Steven Kwan added to OSU’s lead with an RBI single in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Utah would take the lead and hang on to it for the remainder of the night. They did so with RBIs in three consecutive at-bats against Kevin Abel to make it 7-6. Utes left fielder Shea Kramer drove in Utah’s eighth run of the night in the bottom of the eighth inning with a double to left .field
OSU got a rally going in the ninth that included Cadyn Grenier stealing home on a wild pitch, but the Beavers would be unable to tie it up before the final out.
Kevin Abel made his second start on the mound for Oregon State today and struggled at points. He threw four innings allowing three hits, four runs (three earned) with three walks and seven strikeouts. Grant Gambrell appeared in relief for just over an inning and allowed two hits and two runs with a strikeout. Brandon Eisert also pitched an inning of relief and allowed two runs and a hit before Dylan Pearce pitched the final 1.2 innings. Pearce also allowed a run, plus a hit and walk with two strikeouts.
The Beavs drop to 20-3 on the year with the loss while the Utes improve to 5-19. This also marks the first time that OSU has lost consecutive games since last year’s College World Series.
The series continues Friday night at 5 PM PT on Utah’s website. We’ll have more coverage then as the Beavs try to even the series.