Beavers Complete the Sweep of Bobcats

Final Score: Oregon State 6 Texas State 4

For the second straight game, the Beavers got off to a bad start as Texas State scored 1 in the first inning. Oregon State starter Ben Wetzler never quite had it today, and went just 3 innings while allowing 2 runs. Bobcat leadoff hitter Kevin Sah scored both of those runs and got 2 of the 3 hits Wetzler surrendered, leading the game off with a double and lacing a triple down the right field line in the 3rd.

Meanwhile, the Beaver offense struggled. Dylan Davis had a couple leadoff singles in the early innings, one of which led to a bases loaded, two out situation in the 2nd that was ended by an Andy Peterson groundout. In the bottom of the 5th, however, the Beaver bats came alive, so to speak.

Jake Rodriguez led off with a single which Andy Peterson followed with a bunt which the pitcher bobbled, but probably wouldn't have had a play anyway (Peterson was awarded a single). Tyler Smith also laid down a bunt, which the pitcher fielded cleanly this time but his throw went down the right field line. Rodriguez scored and Peterson moved to third on what was scored a single and a throwing error. The next batter Ryan Barnes (wait for it) laid down a safety squeeze bunt which the first baseman gathered and flipped to the catcher, but Peterson just managed to swipe his hand on top of the well-blocked plate. Dylan Davis grounded into a double play to drive in the 3rd run of the inning.

Beaver reliever Tony Bryant got into some trouble in the 6th, partially because of a rare fielding miscue by second basemen Andy Peterson. Scott Schultz replaced him with runners on first and second with two outs, and saw the first batter he faced drive a single up the middle to tie the game at 3. Bryant finished with a line of 2.2 innings pitched, 1 unearned run on 0 hits, 2 walks and 1 strikeout.

The bottom of the 6th started with two quick Beaver outs before Jake Rodriguez started another rally with a single. Andy Peterson walked, and then Tyler Smith proved the Beavers can score runs without bunting. He got all of a pitch that was about belt-high and over the middle of the plate, and just like that it was 6-3 Beavers. Smith finished 2-5 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs. J-Rod and Peterson both went 2-3 and scored twice. Indeed it was just 3 players that scored all 6 Beaver runs.

A couple scoreless innings later, Scott Schultz was pulled and replaced by freshman lefty Max Engelbrekt. He gave up a run and a couple hits in the ninth, but in the end he earned his 3rd save of the year. Schultz was the winning pitcher.

The Beavers next matchup is a 2-game, midweek series against San Francisco that starts on Tuesday. It's anybody's guess who will pitch during that series, as the Beavers begin conference play against Arizona on Friday and Pat Casey wants to have a fully rested pitching staff for those games.

Go Beavs!