Beavers set for win-or-go home against Vanderbilt Monday night

Jason May

OSU Freshman Jacob Kmatz starts Sunday night as sophomore and All-American Pitcher, Cooper Hjerpe recovers from the game against New Mexico State.

Ben Pahl, Sports Contributor

Following a rocky regional opener against New Mexico State Friday night, the Oregon State Beavers cruised by University of San Diego 12-3. 

 

By all accounts, Saturday night was a good one for the Beavers, but Sunday night did not go as well for regional hosts.

 

After putting up four runs in the first inning, Oregon State kept their foot on the gas, and added on another four runs in the second and third innings to take an 8-0 lead early in Saturday night’s game four of the Corvallis Regional.  

 

Five different Beavers had two or more hits, and Jake Pfennigs got the win on the mound. By the end of the game, the Beavers had 13 hits, which resulted in OSU having 9 more runs than NMS. 

 

Needing a win to keep their season alive, the Vanderbilt Commodores jumped on the Beavers early in their game against OSU Sunday night.  In the bottom of the second inning, a walk and an error set the table for a three-run frame from Vanderbilt.  

 

“That inning right out the gate in the second where they scored three [was rough],” said Oregon State Head Coach Mitch Canham.  “We walk a guy, we don’t get an out on a bunt, we wild pitch, and then we’re trying to bring the infield in, and a couple of soft hits.”  

 

After a big second inning, the Commodores kept the pressure on and took a 5-0 lead after five innings, forcing Oregon State freshman starter Jacob Kmatz out of the game early.  

 

In the home half of the fifth, the Beavers had two runners on and just one out.  However, the Commodores were able to extinguish the threat, and put up three more runs in the sixth inning to essentially ice the game away.  

 

“Some rough luck in there but we just gotta make sure that we keep believing and stay confident,” Canham said.

 

Freshman Devin Futrell was the winning pitcher for Vanderbilt on Sunday, going six innings and not surrendering a single earned run.  

 

Offensively for the Commodores, sophomore catcher Jack Bulger went three for four at the plate with an RBI.  Junior right fielder Spencer Jones hit a solo home run, and senior Tate Kolwyck went two for three with an RBI and a run scored.  

 

For the Beavers, junior Wade Meckler and sophomore Garrett Forrester both had a two-hit game, while junior DJ Carpenter and senior Mitchell Verburg both threw scoreless innings.  

 

With Sunday night’s result, the Beavers are set to play a do-or-die matchup against Vanderbilt tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.  While the winner will advance to the super regionals to take on the Auburn Tigers, the loser will be eliminated.  

 

“At some point you’re probably gonna play an elimination game throughout the tournament,” said Wade Meckler.  “We’re the best team in the country when we put it all together, so I’m confident we’re gonna do that again tomorrow, and come out with the win and move on.”  

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