OSU push through clouds to defeat UC Davis Sunday

On a Sunday afternoon where the weather couldn’t make up its mind, OSU Baseball brought a storm of runs upon UC Davis with a sixth-inning rally to give them 4-1 victory and the series sweep.

Jake Mulholland got his first win of the season in four innings of relief, as Cadyn Grenier provided the majority of the offense for the Beavs (10-1)  as they defeated the Aggies (3-6) in the first home series of the season.

UC Davis got a quick run off of redshirt junior right-hander Jake Thompson in the top of the first on an RBI double by senior Cameron Olson. However, Olson got caught pushing his luck trying to leg out a triple, getting gunned down by centerfielder Steven Kwan.

The Beavers had a hit in the first inning and were able to load the bases, but nothing came of it. OSU was otherwise shut down by Aggies’ starter Justin Mullins. That was the only hit by OSU through five innings.

“Defense was outstanding all weekend,” Head Coach Pat Casey said. “Obviously I’ll tell you that our offensive guys got a long way to go, with the little things we didn’t do today.”

Rain showers were on and off throughout the first couple innings, with the clouds and wind settling in for the long haul.

Justin Mullins had also settled in himself, downing 11 straight Beaver batters in order. Sophomore shortstop Nick Madrigal then stepped up to the plate. Madrigal hit a rocket towards right field, but it was snagged out of the air on an athletic play from second baseman Brad Pluschkell.

Thompson finished out five innings before Casey turned to the bullpen for true freshman Jake Mulholland.

Mulholland was able to hold the Aggies in the top of the sixth, before the Beavers’ bats came alive.

OSU worked the bases loaded off a walk from junior first baseman  KJ Harrison, followed by a stolen base and back-to-back walks issued by Mullins.

UC Davis brought in so. Chris Brown, who promptly drilled redshirt junior Jack Anderson to score the first run of the game. Then sophomore second basemen Cadyn Grenier came up to the plate.

“It was a fastball, elevated,” the sophomore second baseman said. “You’re looking for a pitch you’re able to drive there, just at least hit something hard, knock a couple runs in.”

Grenier did more than just hit something hard. He took the third pitch of the at-bat deep to right field, driving in all three runners on base, and legging out a triple of his own.

“He ended up throwing me a great pitch out over the middle of the plate, Grenier said. “I was in a hitter’s count, and I was able to take a swing on it, and it worked out.”

After the offensive excitement, it was the Jake Mulholland show. Mulholland dominated the rest of the afternoon with four innings of one-hit ball, the lone hit coming with two outs in the ninth.

“He does what pitchers need to do,” Casey said. “He changes speeds and he changes the size of the plate, consistently.”

Mulholland was able to soak in his first win of the year, literally, at home in stormy Corvallis fashion.

“I think my changeup was my stand-out pitch today,” Mulholland said. “I think I had some success with that, definitely a lot of swing-and-misses. If you can pair that with a well-located fastball, then it’ll do a lot of damage.”

Mulholland threw 39 pitches on the afternoon, 30 of those going for strikes.

“He’s throwing strikes. That’s the key right there,” Grenier said. “He gets ahead in the count, and he’s able to work his changeup, slider too, both sides of the plate… he’ll throw to anyone, and for strikes. And that makes him really difficult to hit because he’s got really great stuff.”

OSU is back in action Tuesday night, hosting the Portland Pilots. First pitch is set for 5:35 from Goss Stadium. According to Pat Casey, it appears likely Bryce Fehmel will get the start for the Beavers.

@mitchmonge55