Oregon State Baseball: Beavers Finish Sweep of Cal With 5-3 Victory

Oregon State once again found themselves down early against Cal, but managed to pull off a comeback to finish their sweep of the Golden Bears with a 5-3 win. Some clutch defensive play, including four double plays, sealed the OSU victory. Oregon State improves to 24-10, and 10-5 in conference play.

Cal jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first, when a double from Dylan Beavers, a triple from Quentin Selma and a single from John Lagattuta gave them a 2-0 lead. When the Beavers got their turn at the plate a Ryan Ober walk gave them their first baserunner, and a single from Jake Dukart put him in scoring position. A Garret Forrester ground ball scored Ober, but that would be the only run the Beavers would in the first.

Cal got a run back in the top of the third, with a Dylan Beavers solo homer. Oregon State struck back in the fourth. With two outs down, Jacob Melton walked and then stole second, setting up a big at bat for Ryan Ober. Ober hit a single into right field to bring Melton home and get the Beavers within one.

Oregon State got that one in the bottom of the fifth, and once again they did did it down two outs. After a Garret Forrester strike out and a Troy Claunch fly ball, Andy Armstrong singled to get the Beavers a runner. A Joe Casey single got Armstrong to third base, and then a Wade Meckler single got Andy to home plate, tying the game 3-3.

In the bottom of the sixth, Jacob Melton doubled to reach base, before the Bears got two quick outs. It looked like the Bears would escape the inning, but a clutch Garret Forrester single got Melton home, giving OSU their first lead of the game.

The Beavers got an insurance run in the bottom of the eigth. After Jacob Melton walked, he attempted to steal, and a throwing error from Cal’s catcher Cole Elvis allowed him to reach third. A fly out from Ryan Ober brought Melton home, bringing the OSU lead to 5-3. Cal threatened in the top of the ninth, but a clutch 1-5-3 double play ended the game in a Beaver victory.

It was a good day for Ryan Ober, who accounted for two of the Beavers RBIs. He had 1 hit and 1 walk in his three at bats. Garret Forrester also finished with 2 RBIs, with 1 hit. Chase Watkins picked up the win after coming in in relief in the sixth. He pitched for 2.1 innings, during which he struck out three, allowing 1 hit, no walks and no runs. Jake Mulholland picked up yet another save, his ninth of the season, pitching in the ninth.

The Beavers have a midweek game in Corvallis against the Portland Pilots on Tuesday, before they’ll hit the road for a series against UC Irvine that starts on Friday, April 23rd. Tuesday’s first pitch is set for 5:35 PM PT, and will be streamed on pac-12.com.