Oregon State Takes Down Lamar 2-0 in First Game of Road Trip

After suffering one of the worst defeats in program history Tuesday against Washington, Oregon State baseball was looking to make a statement Thursday on the road against Lamar. They didn't quite make that statement, but they did escape with a 2-0 shutout win over the Cardinals, improving their record to 22-6.

Jacob Galloway got the Beavers their first run of the game in the top of the first with a single to left field, scoring Easton Talt, giving Oregon State an early 1-0 lead. A solo home run from Bryson Glassco added another run for the Beavers in the top of the second.

Oregon State got into some trouble in the bottom of the third after allowing a lead off double to Balin Valentine. Valentine reached third on a fly out, and a line out gave the Beavers a second out, but after a tricky grounder from Beau Durbin it looked like the Cardinals had gotten a run on the board. The call at first was reviewed however, and it went the Beavers way to keep the score at 2-0 Oregon State.

The Beavers got into trouble again in the bottom of the fifth. After two quick outs, Trey Morris walked the next Cardinal batter, prompting a pitching change. Wyatt Queen walked the first two batters he faced, loading the bases for Lamar. With the Beaver lead under pressure, Queen managed to get Lamar's Tab Tracy to pop up, ending the inning.

In the meantime Oregon State struggled to generate any consistent threat at the plate, despite having some opportunities. In the sixth inning they were able to get two runners on the bases but left them stranded. In the seventh a lead off double was squandered with three straight fly outs. Another runner in scoring position was stranded in the eighth, and Easton Talt was caught stealing in the ninth.

The Beavers' pitching held firm through it all, taking Lamar to the bottom of the ninth inning with the shutout intact. Albert Roblez came in to close out the game. He worked a ground out against the first batter he faced struck out the second. With Lamar down to their last batter, Theo Kummer struck out looking, handing the Beavers the 2-0 win.

It was a pitcher's duel, and Oregon State's bullpen came out on top. Wyatt Queen got the win, coming to the mound in the fifth inning and pitching for 3.1 innings, striking out two and walking two, while allowing no hits. Starter Trey Morris pitched for 4.2 innings, striking out three while allowing three hits and one walk. Roblez got the save, with two strikeouts in his 1.0 inning pitched.

The Beavers have two more games down in Beaumont, Texas, and probably need a sweep if they want to hang on to their top ten ranking. First pitch is set for 4:05 PM tomorrow, and 1:05 PM on Saturday.