Kavin Keyes looks for a hit in the fourth inning.
The Oregon State baseball team got in the first of two games in Saturday after Friday’s rainout with no weather issues. It was breezy and cool most of the day with only limited drizzles after heavy rains the day before.
Game 2, however, the light rain increased enough to make the mound wet by the fourth inning. The grounds crew had to work on the mound a lot after the sixth inning when the rain really came down hard.
The Beavers lost the first game 3-2 in 10 innings to go on a three-game losing skid, all in Pac-12 games. That’s also the longest losing streak of the season.
It was a good pitcher’s duel. Check out my quick game recap on the GT site here.
There were 1,051 fans at Goss Stadium for the first game. The stadium was cleared between the two games and 1,026 came back for Game 2.
An interesting thing that happened in the first game was the relief pitching moves. RHP Taylor Starr came in the eighth to get one batter out to opening the inning. Coach Pat Casey said afterward that they felt he could get that guy out looking at the matchups.
He was relieved by closer Tony Bryant with no save situation. Starr did look awkward on his last pitch. Since he’s coming back from two Tommy John surgeries, looking awkward for him means more than everyone else.
A mound meeting in the first game.
Bryant was pulled in the 10th for Matt Boyd with runners on first and third. The interesting part was Bryant got a first strike before being taken out. Of course it was for a lefty vs. lefty matchup.
Game 2 was totally different for OSU with the Beavers winning 9-0. The offense exploded with extra base hits, the long ball and two-out hits.
SS Tyler Smith and 3B Ryan Dunn continue on their hitting hot streaks. Dunn hit a thunderous solo shot off the top of the left field wall in the fourth inning.
“We just swung at balls in the strike zone and hit our pitches,” Dunn said of the difference between games.
OF Michael Conforto slammed a huge 2-run home run in the eighth inning that he pulled into the bleachers beyond right field. Dunn joked in a postgame interview that it just landed.
“The guys around us we like to compete, and make it a game within the game,” Dunn said of the focus the hitters had in a long day.
And check out Casey’s postgame interview in the video above.
2 comments
BeaverDon says:
Mar 31, 2012
What a night and day performance by The Beavers! In game one they looked like they did last week in the Arizona series. Game two was the Beavers they swept the Cal Bears two weeks ago! These guys are going to be a wild ride this year.
aaron_ says:
Apr 1, 2012
Tony Bryant really should be pulled as the closer. He has dont this too many times, last year and this year. I think Matt Boyd needs to replace his as our closer. He has ice running through his veins.