Madrigal's Single In 8th Downs Minnesota

Sunday, February 21

Surprise, AZ

12:00 PM

Oregon State

2-1

Minnesota

3-1

Minnesota

Oregon State

Photo by: Karl Maasdam/Oregon State Athletics

February 22, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Athletic Communications

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Deadlocked at seven and with a runner at second base in the eighth inning, Minnesota intentionally walked Trever Morrison to get to freshman Nick Madrigal.

The Golden Gophers paid the price.

Madrigal drove in fellow freshman Cadyn Grenier with a single through the right side of the infield, sending the fifth-ranked Oregon State baseball team to a one-run lead and the eventual victory.

Max Engelbrekt came on in the ninth and got Jordan Smith to fly out to left with the bases loaded to seal the victory. It marked his second save of the season.

Grenier reached on a single to open the eighth, and moved to second on a sac bunt by Logan Ice. Two batters later, and with two outs on the board, Minnesota reliever Brian Glowicki intentionally walked the red-hot Morrison to face the equally red-hot Madrigal.

Madrigal took the second pitch he saw and drove it in between first baseman Toby Hanson and second baseman Connor Schaefbauer. The throw from right fielder Matt Fiedler was too late to get Grenier at the plate.

Just a few words after that game-winning single. #gobeavs pic.twitter.com/19Qit3Kjfm
— Oregon St. Baseball (@Beaver_Baseball) February 21, 2016

Glowicki, who allowed two hits and a run in 1 1/3 innings, took the loss to drop to 0-1. Bryce Fehmel, on in relief in the sixth inning, picked up his first collegiate win. He walked one and struck out one in 1 2/3 innings.

Oregon State (2-1 overall) scored first in a three-run second inning that saw Caleb Hamilton hit a two-run home run, the Beavers' first round tripper of the season. Minnesota (3-1 overall) answered back with a five-run third. Hanson hit a three-run shot in the inning to pace the Golden Gophers.

After four, the teams found themselves tied at six. Minnesota scored once in the seventh, only to see Kyle Nobach drive in the tying run on a sac fly in the bottom half of the inning.

Morrison led the Beavers with three hits, while Madrigal, Grenier and Jack Anderson all tallied two.

Oregon State starter Travis Eckert did not figure in the decision. The senior allowed 12 hits and six runs in six innings. He struck out six and walked one in his first start of the year.

His counterpart, Tyler Hanson, also allowed six runs, with three earned, in four innings of work.

The Beavers did not strike out for the first time since April 26, 2013 against USC.

Oregon State concludes its first weekend of action Monday afternoon when taking on Utah in a non-conference game at Surprise Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. PT (12 p.m. in Arizona). Catch the game live on the Beaver Sports Network.

For more information on the Oregon State baseball team, follow the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/Beaver_Baseball, by Facebook at Facebook.com/OregonStateBaseball or on Instagram at Instagram.com/BeaverBaseball.