Three-Run Homer Lifts Oregon State over Georgia

The teams played in front of a crowd of 7,456, which is believed to be the largest home crowd in Oregon State history.

Photo courtesy: Oregon State Athletics

PORTLAND, Ore. - Jason Ogata’s three-run inside the park home run gave Oregon State its final lead of the game as the Beavers defeated Georgia, 6-4, in the first game of the Papé Grand Slam Friday night at PGE Park.

The teams played in front of a crowd of 7,456, which is believed to be the largest home crowd in Oregon State history.

The Beavers rose to 2-2 on the season and the Bulldogs dropped to 1-3.

“I thought we played well and had some timely hitting,” head coach Pat Casey said. “Mike Stutes threw a great game, and our relievers really came through to get the win.”

The Beavers rallied in the bottom half of the fifth after second baseman Lonnie Lechelt hit a grounder to the third baseman who threw wide of second allowing him to reach safely and Ortiz to advance to third. Ortiz scored when center fielder Chris Hopkins hit a sacrifice fly to the left. Wong walked and both runners advanced on a pass ball.

Ogata followed it up by hitting an inside the park home run into the right field corner. He finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI. John Wallace finished 3-for-4, while Ortiz walked twice.

Joey Wong hit his first career home run and the first home run of the year for the Beavers in the bottom half of the first inning. The run tied the game up at one after the Bulldogs scored one in the top of the inning.

After two scoreless innings, the Bulldogs scored two runs off of three hits including a home run in the fourth. Ortiz threw out a runner stealing second for third assist of the year to end the rally.

Georgia pulled it to within one run in the top of the sixth making it 5-4. The Beavers added an insurance run in the seventh.

Senior Mike Stutes made his second start of the season, going 5 2/3 innings giving up four runs and struck out eight. Stutes received the win and is now 1-1 on the young season.

Stutes was replaced in the sixth inning by Blake Keitzman, who inherited two runners and intentionally walked the bases loaded. He then struck out the next batter swinging with two outs and the bases loaded.

Freshman pitcher Kevin Rhoderick came into the game in the ninth inning and recorded his first career save as a Beaver.

The Papé Grand Slam continues Saturday with scheduled to start time of 1 p.m. PT, at PGE Park, home of the Pacific Coast League’s Portland Beavers. Jorge Reyes goes for OSU while Stephen Dodson takes the hill for Georgia.

Source: OSU Athletics

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