Spring Break
Beavers, Ducks to meet at Goss
For second time this season, Civil War baseball returns Tuesday to Goss Stadium at Coleman Field, Wednesday in Keizer
Casey Grogan
Issue date: 5/19/09 Section: Sports
|
The Daily Barometer
Once again, Oregon and Oregon State will sit in opposing dugouts for baseball rivalry action.
For the fifth time this season, the Ducks (14-37) and the Beavers (31-16) will compete in a Civil War game, and for the second time, the teams will compete in a non-conference affair. Tonight, OSU looks to make a statement to the NCAA Selection Committee as the season winds down, while Oregon hopes to win its first game since May 1.
It has not been announced who will start for either team, but the Beavers will need their starting pitcher to keep the Ducks' bats from getting hot. In two offensive battles over the past weekend, Oregon State was outscored 7-6 by Washington State. The Beavers' one victory came in an 8-2 ballgame.
Oregon has yet to win a game since it took its series opener from UCLA on May 1. Since the 3-2 victory in Eugene, the Ducks have dropped eight straight and have been shut out twice.
Oregon has struggled offensively throughout the season and has not scored more than three runs in a game since scoring six and four in a two-game set with UC Irvine on April 20 and 21. The Ducks' roster is without a single batter sporting an average above .300.
Atop the stat sheet for Oregon is junior Curt Raulinaitis, who is batting .280 on the year from the left side of the plate. With three home runs, freshman KC Serna leads the Ducks in the power department and is tied with sophomore Mitch Karraker for the RBI lead with 18.
On the base paths, OSU may be forced to pay attention to redshirt senior Caleb Tommasini and junior Jett Hart who have 15 and 10 stolen bases, respectively.
Tommasini, the brother of Oregon State sophomore John Tommasini, is batting .254 and leads the Ducks with three triples, having been hit eight times on the year.
With starting pitchers junior Erik Stavert and freshmen Tyler Anderson and Madison Boer having thrown over the weekend as starters, the Ducks may turn to one of three pitchers with starting experience. Junior Bennett Whitmore has seen seven starts for Oregon, and posts a 1-6 record and a 6.07 ERA. Freshman Alex Keudell has started five games with a 0-4 record and 5.57 ERA, while freshman Chris Garrison has started two games and boasts a 4.08 ERA.
In the back of the Oregon bullpen is redshirt sophomore Drew Gagnier. With a 2.84 ERA and team high seven saves, the transfer from Fresno State has been one of the most successful pitchers in the Oregon stable of arms.
While Oregon head coach George Horton looks for his first win since early May, OSU head coach Pat Casey is looking for his 500th win at Oregon State. A win for the Beavers would make Casey the third coach in Oregon State history to hit the 500-win plateau.
To accomplish this feat, Casey will need his offense to perform consistently. Atop the Oregon State roster at the plate has been junior catcher Ryan Ortiz. With a .370 average and four home runs, Ortiz is followed most closely by sophomore first baseman Jared Norris, who is hitting .333 and has three home runs of his own.
After hitting two home runs against Washington State on Friday, junior utility man Adalberto Santos reached the four home run mark. Leading the team before the Washington State series, sophomore third baseman Stefen Romero has been sitting at four home runs since an April 24 game with UCLA. Romero also leads Oregon State with 43 RBI.
Today, OSU and Oregon meet for a 5 p.m. game at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field. The game tonight is the final home game of the season for OSU, who will play Oregon again tomorrow. Wednesday's Civil War I-5 Iris Festival Classic will be played at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer, Ore. at 6 p.m.
Casey Grogan, sports editor
sports@dailybarometer.com
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.