Oregon State
15-4
Long Beach State
10-8
Baseball Drops Second Game Saturday; Still Wins Series
March 19, 2011 | Baseball
March 19, 2011
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Ino Patron singled with the bases loaded and one out in the 11th Saturday night at Blair Field to give Long Beach State a 2-1 win over the Oregon State baseball team in the series finale.
The loss snapped Oregon State's winning streak at 12 games, but the Beavers ensured the series win with a 9-6 victory in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. Oregon State stands at 15-4 this season while Long Beach State is 10-8.
Matt Hibbert led off the 11th with a double down the right field line, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. He stayed there as OSU intentionally walked Mike Marjama and Michael Hill to load the bases and create a force play at the plate,
However, Patron took the first pitch he saw from reliever Tony Bryant and found a spot in center in front of outfielders Garrett Nash and Jordan Poyer for the 2-1 win.
Bryant had a good outing. He worked three innings, allowing four hits and a run while striking out three. However, he was saddled with the loss to drop to 2-1 this season.
Nate Underwood, who came on and worked a scoreless ninth, picked up the win to improve to 1-0.
Josh Osich started and did not figure the decision but posted perhaps his best outing of the season and of his Oregon State career. The lefty went 5 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and a run while striking out a career-best. The outing was also the longest of his career, and he's now thrown 18 innings in five starts this season, accumulating 23 strikeouts.
His lone run allowed came in the sixth. He allowed a two-out double to Brennan Metzger, and was then relieved by Scott Schultz. The right-hander allowed a single to Matt Hibbert, and the throw from center narrowly missed getting Metzger at the plate, allowing Long Beach State to take a 1-0 lead.
Osich was saved from the loss, however, when Jake Rodriguez singled through the left side with two out in the seventh. Danny Hayes scored on the play after singling, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Parker Berberet, putting him in scoring position. Hayes beat the throw to the plate to score the run.
Shawn Stuart matched Osich for most of the game, going 6 2/3 innings in the start for Long Beach State. He was relieved in the seventh after Rodriguez's run-scoring single. Stuart posted 12 strikeouts in his seventh outing of the season. He did not figure in the decision, however.
Rodriguez paced Oregon State with two huts while Metzger and Hibbert each had two hits for the Dirtbags.
The Beavers won the first game Saturday, 9-6, in which Bryant picked up his second save of the season and James Nygren improved to 3-0 after going three innings in relief. Hayes paced the Beavers with three RBI.
Oregon State returns to Goss Stadium Tuesday to start a two-game midweek series with Seattle. First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. PT.
Catch the game on the Beaver Sports Radio Network and Beaver Nation Online (osubeavers.com). For updates throughout the day, follow the official Oregon State baseball Twitter page by going to www.twitter.com/Beaver_Baseball.
For tickets to the game, visit the ticket office at legendary Gill Coliseum, call 1-800-GOBEAVS or visit osubeavers.com.
Support Oregon State University Athletics by making your tax deductible donation to the Beaver Athletic Student Fund. For more information follow this link or call 541-737-2370. Former Student-Athletes are invited to join the Varsity O Facebook Page for upcoming Alumni events.
Follow Oregon State Athletics On YouTube.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Underwood, Nate (1-0)
L: Bryant, Tony (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Norris, Jared 1
RBI: Rodriguez, Jake 1
SH: Berberet, Parker 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hayes, Danny 1
PO: Stamps, Brian 1
Batting:
2B: Metzger, Brennan 1 ; Avila, Juan 1
RBI: Hibbert, Matt 1 ; Patron, Ino 1
SH: Hibbert, Matt 1 ; Duffy, Matt 1 ; Marjama, Mike 1 ; Bekakis, Johnny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Metzger, Brennan 1 ; Avila, Juan 1
CS: Hibbert, Matt 2
