On a warm day in the Pacific Northwest, the Oregon State Beavers simply could not take the heat.
The USC Trojans beat OSU in the first game of their three game series in Corvallis Friday night by a score of 2-0. Oregon State mustered just three hits on the day and committed two errors while USC tallied eight hits with no errors.
Final. USC 2, Oregon State 0.
— Oregon State Baseball (@BeaverBaseball) May 24, 2019
Game 2 of the series tomorrow night at 6:05 p.m.
USC’s first run came in the top of the second inning when Tyler Pritchard dialed up an RBI single that allowed Trevor Halsema to score an unearned run thanks in part to a throwing error in the previous at-bat that set it up.
Matthew Acosta drove in USC’s second run in the top of the fifth with a single to center that allowed Halsema to score another unearned run.
It looked like OSU was going to mount something of a comeback in the ninth...but then this happened.
Hello, 911? We'd like to report a ROBBERY @USC_Baseball's Brady Shockey snags a ball at the fence to preserve the shutout! pic.twitter.com/2gSCFmwLn0
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) May 24, 2019
It did not help OSU’s cause that USC starting pitcher John Beller turned in a monster day with nine strikeouts in a seven inning stint on the mound.
Friday was not Bryce Fehmel’s night either. Pitching 6.1 innings, Fehmel gave up six hits, two runs, and two walks with only two strikeouts in what will be his final regular season start as a Beaver. He finishes his senior regular season with a 7-3 record. Christian Chamberlain finished the game allowing five hits with five strikeouts.
Here’s the insult that unfortunately has to be added to this injury: OSU now has no chance of winning the Pac-12. The Beavs’ loss on top of UCLA and Stanford closing out wins on Friday night puts just about enough distance between OSU and the top spot in the league with two games left in the season.
The series continues Friday at 6 PM.