Fresh off of a sweep of the Oregon Ducks in Corvallis, the Oregon State baseball team now looks for their thirtieth win of the season against another in-state opponent: the University of Portland. The Pilots, from the West Coast Conference, lost to Oregon State once already this season in Corvallis. Can the Beavs repeat that result in a different part of the Beaver State?

There's plenty to be excited about if you’re a Beaver fan this week. Coming into this game, Tyler Malone is riding a streak of five games with a home run. All-American infielder Nick Madrigal made his return from a wrist injury and looked as sharp as ever defensively and at the plate. Plus, Luke Heimlich is the new program leader in career strikeouts. On top of all that, the Beavs have clawed their way back into a top-five spot in the national rankings.

While the Beavs have responded well to a minor skid a few weeks ago, they certainly can’t afford any more major slip-ups at this point in the year.

Starting pitchers are subject to change

How To Watch

No video will be available for this game. :(

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. They also have a TuneIn station.

Schedule

Tuesday, April 24th - 5:00 PM PT

Opponent Outlook

Portland’s sitting at 15-23 overall with an 8-10 WCC record. Most recently, they won two out of three in Los Angeles against Loyola Marymount thanks to some admirable performances from the beginning of their weekend rotation. Pitching hasn’t exactly been their strong suit this season either with a team ERA of 4.83.

Offensively, they've fared slightly better with a team batting average of .265 and slugging percentage of .389. They’re third and second, respectively, in the WCC in those categories. They also have 22 home runs on the season.

In their last meeting, Oregon State defeated Portland by a score of 6-3 back on March 6th. It took some late-game offense to seal that victory for the Beavs, but Oregon State ultimately showed they were the better team.

This Tuesday, the Beavs have the chance of seeing the same pitcher from that game in Jake Hawken. He’s 0-2 on the season with a 6.48 ERA. Portland may also go with Joey Morris, who is 1-1 with a 9.58 ERA. Needless to say, Portland has struggled all year with their midweek guys on the mound.

In Conclusion

Oregon State certainly seems to be in a good place right now with all their major pieces not just back from injury, but at full strength. Combine that with the energy of playing in a professional stadium with what will probably feel like a home crowd and a mediocre opponent, this one sure seems like it’s ripe for the Beavs’ taking.