Beavers Lose Late In Surprise Opener

Thursday, March 1

Surprise, Ariz. (Stadium)

10:00 AM

Oregon State

5-4

Saint Mary's

6-3

Oregon State

St. Mary's

March 01, 2012 | Baseball

Box Score

By: TBD

March 1, 2012

Box Score

SURPRISE, Ariz. - Michael Conforto went 2-for-4 and Kavin Keyes drove in two but a late St. Mary's home run gave the Gaels a 5-4 win over the Oregon State Baseball team Thursday at Surprise Stadium.

Patrick Wisdom hit a one-out, solo home run in the seventh off Oregon State reliever Cole Brocker for the game's winning run. It capped three straight innings where the Gaels (6-3 overall) scored one run to give them the comeback victory.

Conforto singled twice to extend his hit streak to a team season-long five games. Oregon State (5-4), overall, managed seven hits off three St. Mary's pitchers.

The Beavers, down 2-0 after St. Mary's scored two in the second, took a 4-2 lead in the fourth. Keyes drove a first-pitch double down the left field line, then watched as Ryan Dunn drove in the inning's third run with a sacrifice fly to right.

Max Gordon then singled up the middle for the Beavers' final run of the inning.

St. Mary's chipped away at the Beavers' lead, however, scoring solo runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Donald Collins hit a two-out single to right off OSU reliever Cole Brocker in the sixth to tie the game at four.

Ben Wetzler started and went 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs - three earned - with six hits, two walks and four strikeouts in throwing a season-high 85 pitches. He was relieved by Brocker with a 4-3 lead in the sixth.

Wetzler did not figure in the decision.

Wetzler's counterpart, righty Martin Agosta, also did not figure in the decision after Collins' single tied the game in the sixth. He worked six innings, allowing five hits and four runs while walking one and striking out six. He threw 106 pitches.

The win went to St. Mary's reliever Patrick Keane, who allowed one hit in two innings. He improved to 1-0. Kyle Barraclough forced the Beavers to strand runners at second and third in the ninth for his first save of the 2012 season.

Ricky Boas led St. Mary's with two hits.

The Beavers play their second game in Arizona Friday when taking on Winthrop at 10 a.m. PT (11 a.m. in Arizona). Catch the game live on the Beaver Sports Radio Network and Beaver Nation Online (osubeavers.com).

For more information on the Oregon State baseball team, follow the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/Beaver_Baseball.

OSU Notes: Michael Conforto became the first Beaver with a five-game hit streak this season when he singled in the fourth ... The matchup with St. Mary's was the Beavers' first since 2009 ... The teams have now played eight times with four at a neutral-site field.

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.