After a high-scoring weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Oregon State Beavers return to Goss Stadium looking to extend their home game winning streak against the University of California, Irvine Anteaters.

A three-game series begins Friday, April 4 at 5:35 pm. 

The Beavers will face their first ranked matchup since they defeated the then No. 2 ranked University of Virginia on February 21st.

The Beavs look to clean up their pitching after allowing the Huskers to score 16 runs on the series finale and have a first series loss of the season, causing them to fall from No. 5 to No. 11 in D1 Baseball’s national ranking.  

The Anteaters have crawled their way up the national rankings. Having started the season unranked by D1 Baseball, they currently stand at No. 12. They are on an eleven-game winning streak and have not lost a game since March 15.

“They’re very consistent with their approach,” head coach Mitch Canham said. “If you look at any of their games, they’re always getting guys on base.”

UCI’s Colin Yeaman sits atop the Big West conference with 39 RBIs, a .431 batting average, and a 12-game hitting streak. 

Chase Call hit his 25th career home run, tying the Anteaters’ all-time record, with teammate Anthony Martinez following closely behind at 23. 

“They have a lot of solid options up and down their lineup,” Canham said. “So we have to execute pitches and make plays on defense.”

The Huskers triumphed over the Beavs in the series opener and finale. The Beavs left a combined total of 18 runners on base in those two games, and the pitching staff gave up 28 runs in three games. 

“After last weekend, it’s really important to get back on track,” pitcher Nelson Keljo said. “Everyone here can tell you that we are not at our peak yet. We’re not playing our best baseball yet, which is a good thing.” 

Left-handed starter Keljo will be back on the mound for Friday’s game against the Anteaters, after injuring his tricep during a workout before his start against Cal Polytechnic State University on March 21. 

“Obviously, I wanted to go to Nebraska and play there,” Keljo said. “The doctor wanted me to take a week off to make sure it didn’t turn into more, but I’m super excited to be back against Irvine this weekend.”

Keljo’s injury pushed his pitching partner and righty, Eric Segura to make the start for the first time since last season.

This season, Segura has been coming in as a long-term relief pitcher for the Keljo, and in his return to the starting position, he gave up five runs in 4.1 innings.

Keljo and Segura’s tandem pitching puts them at a 6-0 record for the season.

“(Segura’s role) is a great opportunity to learn how to pitch in the five through nine inning range where the pressure is a little bit different,” Canham said. “So now you put that together with a starter and a guy who’s worked the back end of the game, and you know how to operate the entirety of a game.”   

Beaver vet, Gavin Turley, led the charge offensively last weekend with five home runs and nine RBIs.

“I don’t think they were giving me much to hit all weekend, but the mistakes left in the zone I was able to capitalize on,” Turley said. “When you have guys like Trent (Caraway), Aiva (Arquette), Easton (Talt), and (Jacob) Krieg, those are dangerous guys they have to worry about as well, so it’s not like they can necessarily pitch around me.” 

Turley’s three home runs helped cement program history with a combined eight team home runs on Saturday, March 29, in the Beavers’ 16-5 mercy-rule win against the Huskers. 

“He’s (Turley) got a bunch of pop and lots of power, and when he connects with it, it’s great to see,” Keljo said. 

Before the weekend, Turley sat at only three home runs, an abnormally slow pace compared to his last two seasons. He now leads the team along with first baseman Krieg with eight home runs, and is the solo leader in batting average with .347 and RBIs with 29. 

“It’s a tough place to play in Goss,” Turley said. “We love to win here, so I think a lot of the guys are comfortable and ready to compete with a bit of fire lit under their bellies.” 

Turley and the Beavers look ahead to another homestand sweep at Goss Stadium, Friday at 5:35 p.m., Saturday at 1:35 p.m., and Sunday at 12:05 p.m.