Recap: Beavers Play Around For a Bit, Then Utterly Destroy Washington State 18-4

In the first, Brandon Eisert made quick work of the top of the Washington State order. Jake Harvey lead things off for the Beavers by getting walked, and then a big double from Joe Casey got both runners in scoring position. That brought Adley Rutschman to the plate. The Cougar’s starting pitcher, Ky Bush, seemed hesitant to give Adley anything to work with, and that ended up costing him, as a wild pitch slipped past catcher Koby Blunt allowing Harvey to score.

Rutschman was then walked, and Ryan Ober hit a long fly ball to get Casey home, giving the Beavers a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, they added one more with a solo home run from Andy Armstrong.

Washington State answered that in the top of the third. An error by Eisert helped get runners in scoring position, and a sac fly from Jack Smith got them their first run of the game. Then the Beavers offense got going in a big way.

Joe Casey and Adley Rutschman started things off with a pair of singles that got runners at the corners. A Ryan Ober single got Casey home for the first run of the inning. Jake Dukart followed that with a double to add another two runs. Kyler McMahan finished things off with a single that brought Dukart home for the final run of the frame. Four runs in the third had given the Beavs a 7-1 lead.

Washington State wasn’t giving up though. The Cougars’ bats started to wake up, and in the top of the fourth a four hit inning produced two runs. The Beavers struck back with a Preston Jones sac fly bringing in Ryan Ober, keeping the lead at 5 runs, 8-3.

The two teams traded a pair of runs in the fifth. For Washington State, Jack Smith led off with a double, and then a pair of sacrifice flies brought the run in. For the Beavers, Jack Harvey and Joe Casey hit a pair of singles to get Harvey in scoring position, then Adley Rutschman scored him with a sac fly. 9-4 after five.

Eisert finally ended the Cougs’ offensive momentum in the top of the sixth, allowing one more hit but getting three quick ground outs. That was Eisert’s last inning on the mound. This wasn’t his best game, but he got the win to improve to 8-1. He allowed 4 runs, 3 of them earned, and 10 hits, while striking out three. Joey Mundt came on in relief, and looked fantastic. He pitched 3 innings, allowing only 2 hits, and striking out 4. He got a save for his work.

After a bit of quiet in the sixth, things got spicy when the Beavers took the plate in the bottom of the seventh. Preston Jones was walked. Andy Armstrong hit a single. Kyler McMahan hit a single. That scored Jones. Jake Harvey hit a single. That scored Armstrong. Joe Casey was walked.

There were no outs.

The bases were loaded.

Adley Rutschman was up to bat.

When you see two teens sneaking off into the woods at Camp Crystal Lake, you know what’s about to happen. When you see a guy in a red shirt beam down to a planet with Kirk, Spock and McCoy, you know what’s going to happen. When you load the bases for Adley, with no outs, and throw him three outside balls to start the at bat, you know what’s going to happen.

GRAND

SLAM

That essentially ended the game, but the Beavers decided to play things out. They got two more batters on base, with a walk and an hbp. The Cougars finally got their first out, but the Beavers got the bases loaded again, and Kyler McMahan scored two with a right field single. Another walk got the bases loaded again, and the Cougars walked in a run. They would strike out Troy Claunch after that to finally end the inning. After the Beavers scored 9 runs.

18-4.

That was the final.

The Beavers get back to work tomorrow at 1:35. I don’t know how they plan on topping themselves for Game 2, but I’m excited to see them try.