The Barometer Online

Issue date: 3/13/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jeff Wick Senior reliever Mark Grbavac delivers a pitch in an Oregon State intersquad scrimmage in February.

After three weeks on the road and 10 games under their belts, the Beavers return home to Oregon with a respectable record of 7-3.

Kicking off a 14-game "home stand," Oregon State Baseball will travel north to Portland, hosting Missouri State in the second annual Papé Grand Slam.

The series drew record crowds in 2008 when the Beavers took two out of three from 2008 College World Series runners-up, the University of Georgia. OSU head coach Pat Casey is convinced the turnout will be similar and the competition just as good.

"I've talked to a couple of clubs who said Missouri State has a good club," Casey said. "It's going to be a great atmosphere. It looks like the weather is going to be good, and we're anxious and excited to go up and play in PGE Park."

A member of the Missouri Valley Conference, the Bears have struggled to get going in 2008 with a record of 4-9. Coming off a six-game home stand where the Bears were only able to come away with two wins, Oregon State expects to face a squad hungry to turn things around.

Although its record might say different, Missouri State is a team that will jump at any opportunities, fielding a group of players who could start on most competing teams across the nation.

Leading the Bears in 2009 is junior first basemen Ben Carlson. The 6-foot-3-inch Kansas native is returning to the field after playing the role of designated hitter in 2008. With a season focused entirely on his performance at the plate, Carlson proved to be the man for the job, receiving honors as an All-American.

Carlson sits atop most categories on his team, including a batting average of .358, 17 RBI, five doubles, four home runs and a .679 slugging percentage.

The Beavers are well aware of players such as Carlson and the extended talent that fills Missouri State's line up. Approaching this series like any other, Oregon State has no plan to change anything in its repertoire, sticking to what has helped it to be successful in the early season.

Taking the mound for the Beavers Friday night will be the transfer from Pacific, Tyler Waldron. Currently 0-1 with an ERA of 6.75, Waldron's numbers hardly portray his abilities, something pitching coach Nate Yeskie and the rest of the Beaver staff is aware of.

Playing at PGE is always something both fans and players to look forward too. A historic venue in downtown Portland that houses the Portland Beavers and Timbers, PGE is the closest most players have come to a major league ballpark.

"We play the way we play," Casey said. "The park plays fair. It's a little bigger to the gaps, but when we played last year I never even thought about that. We thought about who we were playing, and what we needed to do to offset their strengths, not about the ballpark."

Oregon State will play three games this weekend in Portland before returning home to Corvallis for its home opener against Utah Valley on Thursday, March 19. Hoping to capitalize on the lengthy home stand, the Beavers have every opportunity to climb the ranking ladder.

Matt Wilhelmsen, sports writer

sports@dailybarometer.com

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