Oregon State Takes Series Finale From Arizona State

Chris Hopkins went 1-for-4 with one RBI and was 6-for-11 in the series, scoring three runs.

Jorge Reyes pitched a gem, going eight full innings, as the Oregon State baseball team took the series finale against No. 23 Arizona, 3-2, Sunday afternoon in front of 2,367 fans at Goss Stadium. Photo courtesy: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Jorge Reyes pitched a gem, going eight full innings, as the Oregon State baseball team took the series finale against No. 23 Arizona, 3-2, Sunday afternoon in front of 2,367 fans at Goss Stadium.

The win gave Oregon State the series victory after winning Saturday. The Beavers improved to 20-14 overall and 8-7 in Pacific-10 Conference play this season, while Arizona dropped to 28-13 overall and 7-8 in Pac-10 games.

“Jorge did an outstanding job today and we played great defense behind him,” head coach Pat Casey said. “This was one of his better outings of the season. This is a very key win.”

Reyes’ eight innings marked his longest outing of the season and the right-hander gave up one earned run. He struck out six batters and gave up no walks.

Reyes was the third OSU pitcher in as many games to work into the eighth inning. He threw 108 pitches Sunday and improved to 3-2 this season.

Reyes got into trouble in the seventh inning with runners at first and second with no outs. After an Arizona sac bunt moved runners to second and third, he induced leadoff hitter T.J. Steele into the second out of the inning on a strikeout. Reyes got out of the jam when Bobby Coyle grounded back to him for the third out of the inning.

Oregon State (20-14 overall, 8-7 Pacific-10 Conference) closer Kevin Roderick came in to close the game in the ninth but worked himself into trouble, loading the bases back-to-back walks with two outs but was able to get Coyle swinging to end the game. He posted his ninth save of the season.

Chris Hopkins went 1-for-4 with one RBI and was 6-for-11 in the series, scoring three runs.

Daniel Robertson was 2-for-3 with one run scored Sunday and Lonnie Lechelt was 2-for4 with an RBI.

Arizona starting pitcher Eric Berger pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up three runs while striking out five. He recorded his third loss of the season with his record at 4-3.

Arizona (28-13, 7-8) took the early lead in the top of the first inning off back-to-back doubles by C.J. Ziegler and Brad Glenn, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.

The Beavers took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with three runs making the score 3-1. Daniel Robertson hit a leadoff single for the Beavers in the fifth and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Erik Ammon. Wells drove in Robertson from second with a single to center field.

Wells later advanced to second with a stolen base. That was key as two batters later, Chris Hopkins doubled to right, bringing in Wells from second.

Lonnie Lechelt capped off the inning with a triple off the left field wall, scoring Hopkins and giving OSU a two-run lead.

Arizona pulled to within one in the sixth Coyle reached on an error and moved to second on the overthrow. He later scored when Glenn singled two batters later.

Oregon State next takes the field Tuesday at Gonzaga with a first pitch time of 6 p.m. The game can be heard on the Beaver Sports Network, Beaver Nation Online (www.osubeavers.com) and Yahoo! Sports.

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