Oregon State baseball concluded their three-game clash against San Diego with a 5-2 win on Sunday afternoon at home in Goss Stadium.

Both teams stranded a runner in their first two at-bats. San Diego left junior Jack Gurevitch after he hit a double down the left-field line, and the Beavers stranded junior Gavin Turley, who got on base with a walk.

San Diego then had another baserunner in the following inning, with junior Connor Meidroth reaching first on the game’s first error by starting sophomore pitcher Ethan Kleinschmit.

Kleinschmit then made up for his mistake by striking out senior Gabe D’arcy to clear the bases again. 

The tables were then turned in the third inning. The Beavers put away the side and then immediately started their batting portion with a walk by junior Dallas Macias, who was advanced to third by the next two batters.

“We have a great squad here, we’re all super close and good friends, even more than just teammates. I think it’s pretty cool to see all the guys having my back,” said Macias.

With two outs on the board, Oregon State made good on their scoring opportunity. Junior Aiva Arquette acquired a single off drive into center field, sending Macias home for the game’s first run.

Junior Canon Reeder would break the initial silence of the fourth after San Diego went scoreless at the top, ripping a leadoff line drive down the left field line for a double. He would then be advanced to third by a single from junior Easton Talt.

Another run was driven home for Oregon State by senior Wilson Weber, whose groundout hit drove Reeder to home plate.

The top of the fifth inning brought Kleinschmit’s fifth and sixth strikeout of the day, which ended the inning.

San Diego, in the transition of the fifth, also made a pitching change to freshman Fernando Palencia. Despite early struggles, he kept another inning scoreless.

Sophomore Aden Howard sent a booming hit to the back wall to start the sixth inning. He would have easily had a double but made a questionable decision to try to take third, giving Oregon State the chance to tag him out and eliminating the scoring opportunity.

Despite the early mistake, San Diego got two more on base with a walker and grounder up the middle. With two out now and a runner on first and second, senior Austin Smith then hit down the right field line that nearly reached the wall. This drove in a run for San Diego and caused the Beavers to switch out Kleinschmit for junior AJ Hutchenson.

Kleinschmit ended the day with six strikeouts, one walk, and a 1.74 ERA.

Hutchenson was able to force a groundout to end the inning with only one run given up.

San Diego then pitched another scoreless inning and made their third pitching change in the closing innings, switching to junior David Horn Jr., who kept their deficit to one.

The Beavers also switched in a closing pitcher, junior Tanner Douglasfor, and then freshman Zach Edwards in the eighth inning, ending the inning with a groundout by Santana.

The bottom of the eighth inning began with Horn Jr. walking the first two batters. He was then replaced with senior Hayden Cody. Weber then made a sacrifice fly to advance Reeder to third, putting them at two outs. Macias then followed with a rocketing home run over the right field fence to add three runs to their lead before the end of the inning.

“It’s been an uphill battle for him, and there’s nothing our team wants more than for Dallas to have a breakout season,” said Reeder.

OSU sophomore pitcher Matthew Morrel and then sophomore Laif Palmer would head the mound for the ninth inning. Palmer, despite baserunner pressure, ended the game with a strikeout swinging.

Oregon State will remain home for their two-day series against Washington State, beginning at 3:05 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12.