In the final game of the regular season, the Oregon State baseball team won 8-1 and took the series against the Air Force Falcons Saturday night at Goss Stadium.
This win marks the final series victory for OSU, as they have now won every single weekend series against opponents this season.
On an emotional Senior Night, the freshman Trey Morris got the start, where he dominated on the mound. He allowed two hits and one run in his 5.2 innings pitched. He stacked up six strikeouts and got his sixth win on the season.
“Im just trying to do my job. At the end of the day, if the Beavers win, that’s all that matters,” Morris said.
The Beavers bats also found success early behind a great showing from Josh Proctor. In the bottom of the second, Adam Haight reached second on a bunt and an error from the Falcons third baseman. Proctor singled to right, driving in Haight and putting the first points on the board for the Beavers.
An inning later, the Beavers rallied to score four runs with two outs. Three walks made the bases loaded before Haight got hit by pitch to bring one in to score. Proctor followed that up with another RBI, driving in Paul Vazquez. Jacob Galloway would follow up Proctor with a 2 RBI single extending the Beavers lead to five.
The only highlight of the day for Falcons came from starting catcher, Walker Zapp, as he homered off of Morris to make the ballgame 5-1 in the fourth inning. He would go 2-4 on the day, being the only successful Falcon in the batters box.
Morris left the mound in the fifth inning, exchanged for Senior AJ Hutcheson who took care of Zapp to end the sixth. Hutcheson went 1-2-3 in the seventh and the Beaver pitching continued to dominate.
Hutcheson was replaced by fellow senior Tanner Douglas in the eighth. He was then replaced by another fellow senior in Isaac Yeager who finished the inning. The Beavs would then bring in another senior and fan favorite Albert Roblez to finish up the ninth.
Head Coach Mitch Canham made sure that the seniors were getting their fair share at the mound on Senior Night.
“This has been the greatest group I’ve ever been a part of. The funnest part of my day today was being able to see (the seniors) come in after me and throw the ball really well,” Morris said when asked about the four seniors coming in and ending the game.
Things stayed silent offensively until the eighth when Proctor hit a two run homer to left field to make it 7-1. The Beavers would take on one more run from AJ Singer and would extend the lead to 8-1.
Josh Proctor went 3-4 with a home run and four RBIs. He extended his hitting streak to nine and looks to stay hot as the postseason is on the horizon.
“Right now, I think we realize it’s about to be playoffs so I think the intent is way different,” Proctor said when asked about the mindset of the team going into the postseason.
“Everyone is more locked in right now.”
Unfortunately for the Beavs, they will have to wait a full week before knowing what the regionals will look like. Late Quad 4 losses and the fact they aren’t playing in a conference tournament puts them right on the bubble to host a regional.
“If I wasn’t talking to you guys right now I would be on the phone calling up teams that want to play”, Canham said after the Beavers win.
Oregon State ends their regular season with a 43-12 record and looks for a strong playoff push this postseason.