After 277 days, the No. 8 nationally ranked Oregon State Beaver Baseball team has finally returned home to Goss Stadium.
On Friday, March 7, at 5:35 p.m., the Beavers will begin a three-game series against the University of San Diego, marking the start of an eight-game homestand.
The Toreros are sitting at a 2-10 record thus far, posing as non-threatening compared to the Beavers’ 7-3 record.
“Every single game is the College World Series,” outfielder Gavin Turley said. “That’s the kind of intensity I like to bring, so when I get to the College World Series, it’s just another game.”
While the team is excited to return to Corvallis, the bullpen and bats will be tested over this ten-day stretch.
“For some guys, it’s their first time getting to take the field here,” head coach Mitch Canham said. “They’re going to see how special it really is.”
Notably, transfer portal steal, Aiva Arquette will step onto the field at home after his star performance in Texas.
On February 25, Arquette was awarded Shortstop of the Week after finishing the Round Rock Classic in Round Rock, Texas.
Arquette recorded 10 RBIs, three home runs, and batted .440 on the weekend.
Freshman starting pitcher, Dax Whitney, will be throwing his first strike at Goss.
Whitney leads the team in strikeouts with 20 through three games.
Flying under the radar is junior college transfer and second baseman AJ Singer.
Playing second, Singer has big shoes to fill. The 2024 MLB draft first-pick, Travis Bazzana made history as one of the greatest second basemen at OSU.
Singer snuck in the starting lineup all 10 games the Beavers have played so far, knocking in 10 RBIs and eight runs.
“I’m coming in here with the mentality of not trying to replace (Bazzana),” Singer said. “I’m trying to do the best I can and produce the best I can to help the team win.”
Defensively, Singer has 27 assists and no errors on the field.
“Playing second is something new for me,” Singer said. “But I love it and love being able to play for this team.”
Singer worked with assistant coach Joey Wong in the preseason to master the defensive positioning of a second baseman; taking only two weeks to feel fully transitioned.
“He’s (Singer) been a joy to be around,” Canham said. “He leads by example and is not afraid to speak up and lift people up.”
First baseman Jacob Krieg and Turley are looking to bring their bats back to Goss.
Krieg leads the team with five home runs, while Turley leads with 16 RBIs.
The Beavers recorded 86 runs through ten games, averaging 8.6 runs per game.
At the College Baseball Classic in Surprise, Arizona, Beaver pitching allowed only nine runs in four games.
However, the following two tournament performances did not follow suit. Beaver pitching took a hit and gave up 39 runs in six games.
“On the pitching side, we’ve given too many free bases,” Canham said. “But we talk a lot about turn around, so there should be a lot of confidence that’s built having a defense like that behind you.”
Right fielder Easton Talt flashed his glove at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, robbing the University of Baylor’s Pearson Riebock of a home run in the top of the seventh on February 28.
This was his second home run robbery of the season.
“(Singer’s) been huge defensively for us right now,” Turley said. “He’s been locked down over there and a consistent bat at the bottom of the order.”
The dynamic pitching duo of Nelson Keljo and Eric Segura will face the Toreros in the home opener on Friday.
Keljo has started three games, totaling 12 innings. Segura has been coming in behind Keljo filling in as a long-term relief pitcher.
“I want (Keljo) to feel even more on the attack, with Eric coming in behind him,” Canaham said. “I would rather have him pitching 90 to 100% of his capabilities for three or five innings than try to pitch at 70% of his capabilities for seven.”
The strategy has worked thus far, Segura has been credited with three wins in three games played.
Fans can make a trip to Goss Stadium Friday, March 7 at 5:35 pm, Saturday, March 8 at 1:35 pm, and Sunday, March 9 at 1:05 pm to watch Beaver Baseball.