Gameday: Baseball vs. New Mexico (2/20/21)

GAME 2: Oregon State (0-1) vs. New Mexico (0-1)
Feb. 20, 2021 • 11:00 a.m. PT • Surprise, Ariz. • Surprise Stadium
LHP Cooper Hjerpe (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Justin Armbruester (0-0, 0.00)

The Game
Oregon State continues action in Surprise Saturday when the Beavers take on New Mexico. First pitch at Surprise Stadium is scheduled for 11 a.m. PT (12 p.m. in Arizona).

Radio
All games air on the Beaver Sports Network with pre-game 30 minutes before first pitch. Affiliates include KEJO 1240-AM (Corvallis), KKNX 840-AM (Eugene), KCFM 1250-AM & 104.1-FM (Florence), KLAD 960-AM & 93.3-FM (Klamath Falls), KTMT 880-AM & 96.1-FM (Medford, weekend games), Rip City Radio 620-AM (Portland), 102.3 FM (weekday games prior to 5:30 p.m.), KSKR 1490-AM (Roseburg) and KBZY 1490-AM (Salem, weekend games).

Listen Online
Catch the game online by visiting osubeavers.com, and find the live broadcast on the Oregon State baseball schedule page. The games can be heard via the TuneIn application, which is available for smartphones and tablets (search Beaver Sports Network).

Television
The game will not be broadcast.

Live Video
Flo Live will stream each of the Beavers' four games in Surprise. Visit Flo.TV to sign up and watch the games.

Online
Live stats for the game can be accessed by clicking on the live stats link located on the baseball schedule page on osubeavers.com.

Last Game
Ryan Ober hit an eighth-inning two-run home run but Oregon State's late rally came up short in a 3-2 loss to Kansas State on opening day Friday. Troy Claunch posted two hits and Kevin Abel struck out seven over 4 2/3 innings in his first start since March 1, 2019 against West Virginia.

Hjerpe Notes
• Cooper Hjerpe, pronounced Jer-p, is set to make his first collegiate start in Saturday's game.
• Hjerpe pitched in six games in Oregon State's shortened 2020 season. He was 1-1 with two saves and 5.25 earned run average in 12 innings.
• Hjerpe Struck out 16 in those 12 innings, allowing just seven hits.

Against New Mexico
• Oregon State is taking on the Lobos for the fourth consecutive season, and is on a five-game win streak in the series. All-time, Oregon State is 12-4 versus New Mexico.
• OSU opened the 2020 season with an 11-4 win against New Mexico. The Beavers scored nine runs in the first, including seven before the Lobos were able to record an out.
• The Beavers have never faced Saturday's probable starter, Justin Armbruester, nor Monday's starter, Nathaniel Garley.

On Abel's Return
• Kevin Abel took the loss Friday but was solid in his return to the mound. The redshirt sophomore did not allow a hit until the fifth inning and struck out seven in his 4 2/3 innings of work.
• Kansas State was just 1-for-16 against him, his lone hit against a double in the fifth inning.

Verburg Also Makes His Return
• Mitchell Verburg also made his first appearance on the mound since the 2019 season.
• The right-hander worked a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one walk.
• Verburg had last pitched on April 27, 2019 against Washington State.

That's Four For Ober
• Ryan Ober, who did not homer during the shortened 2020 season, hit the fourth of his career on Friday.

Singles
• The loss Friday snapped Oregon State's win streak on opening day at 11.
• Kyler McMahan extended his hit streak to eight games on Friday.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kevin Abel

Troy Claunch

Cooper Hjerpe

Kyler McMahan

Ryan Ober

Mitchell Verburg