The Barometer Online

Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Cory Reed Junior Rob Folsom slides into third base during Oregon State's 8-1 victory on Sunday at PGE Park. Folsom was 2-4 with two runs scored in the third game of the Civil War series.

The Beavers began Pac-10 play this past weekend in what could have been considered the most highly anticipated matchup of the year.

Rekindling a rivalry that disappeared 29 years ago, Oregon State (15-6, 2-1 Pac-10) traveled to Eugene Friday and Portland for the weekend to square off against the reincarnated University of Oregon (11-14, 1-2) baseball team.

The three-game series set a Pac-10 record in attendance, drawing an astounding 15,409 on Saturday evening and 13,709 less then 24 hours later. A series that failed to disappoint offered everything from rain delays, bases loaded walks and extra inning heroics late into the night.

Beginning in Eugene at PK Park, the Beavers took the field behind starter Tyler Waldron, who accounted for 7.1 innings. Collecting his second victory of the season, Waldron allowed only one run on five hits. With a top-of-the-ninth cushion, the Beavers cruised to a 7-1 victory in their first Pac-10 game of the year.

Moving location and forced to handle a change in weather, the Beavers and Ducks went back to work at PGE Park in a game that looked to be unplayable. While the crowd was in no hurry to go home, a short delay allowed the clouds to open and the teams to take the field.

On what turned into a cold night in the Northwest, a pitching duel came to life as OSU starter Greg Peavey and Oregon's Eric Stavert mirrored one another's perfection. While Peavey only lasted 5.1 compared to Stavert's 6.2, each pitcher conceded only two walks.

When Stavert began to look nearly unhittable, the Beavers put a run on the board in the top of the seventh when John Wallace drove a base hit to center field, scoring Stefen Romero from second. The Beavers would add to their total in the top of the eighth with one more before the Ducks could answer in the bottom with two runs of their own.

Relief pitcher Mark Grbavac hit the lead-off batter of the inning and things to began to slowly crumble. After loading the bases, Josh Osich would come on in relief, only to allow both runs to cross plate after two unintentional walks.

Continued...

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