Oregon State Drops Second Game To Stanford

The game had an up-and-down feel to it early on, with Stanford holding a 4-3 lead after the first two innings. The Cardinal posted a 2-0 lead after one, but the Beavers were able to answer with three runs in the top half of the second.

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STANFORD, Calif. - Oregon State rallied with runs in the seventh and eighth innings, but the Beavers could not hold off Stanford late and dropped a 7-6 decision to the Cardinal Saturday night at Sunken Diamond.

Down 5-3 entering the seventh, Oregon State managed two runs in the inning off a passed ball and a wild pitch. The two runs evened the score at five, but the Beavers allowed two runs in the bottom half of the inning.

OSU rallied in the eighth when Drew Storen, Stanford’s closer, struck out Koa Kahalehoe. But the pitch was wild, allowing Jared Norris to score from third and pull OSU to within one. But Storen was able to get the final four outs of the game to improve to 7-1 on the year and give the Cardinal a 30-24 record (and 13-13 mark in Pacific-10 Conference play).

Tanner Robles, throwing in his first game in relief this season, dropped to 1-3 after taking the loss. He allowed two runs and no hits in three innings of work. The Beavers, meanwhile, dropped to 34-17 overall and 14-12 in Pac-10 games.

Three Beavers had two hits in the loss: Kahalehoe, Stefen Romero and John Wallace.

The game had an up-and-down feel to it early on, with Stanford holding a 4-3 lead after the first two innings. The Cardinal posted a 2-0 lead after one, but the Beavers were able to answer with three runs in the top half of the second.

Romero opened the inning’s scoring with a one-out, solo home run to left, a shot that cleared the trees just beyond the left-field fence. It was his fifth of the season, and first since April 24, and pulled the Beavers to within one, 2-1.

Kahalehoe then reached on a double down the right-field line and moved to third when John Wallace singled through the left side. John Tommasini, batted ninth in the lineup for the 51st time this season, hit a deep shot to right for a sac fly and his 24th RBI of the season. Michael Miller then made it 3-2 with a ground-rule double that also forced Stanford to pull starter Michael Marshall.

The Cardinal did not stay down long, however, getting two runs in the second off Oregon State starter Jorge Reyes. Colin Walsh grounded out to second with runners on second and third for an RBI, then watched as Joey August drove in Stanford’s fourth run of the game with an infield single.

After holding Stanford scoreless in the third, the Beavers allowed the Cardinal to score its fifth run of the game in the fourth on a single by Adam Gaylord that brought in Jeff Whitlow, who started the inning off with a triple.

Reyes lasted 3 1/3 innings before being pulled in favor of Robles. Reyes allowed eight hits and five runs in his 13th start of the season. He did strike out three and did not issue a walk in throwing 54 pitches. He did not figure in the decision after the Beavers tied the game with two runs in the seventh.

All told, the Beavers used six pitchers. OSU relievers combined to throw 4 2/3 innings, striking out nine while allowing one hit.

Oregon State chased Marshall after 1 2/3 innings, where he allowed four hits and three runs. Marshall, normally a reliever, had been bumped into the starting role when Brett Mooneyham was scratched prior to the game. Mooneyham is now scheduled to throw in the series finale Sunday.

Oregon State and Stanford conclude the regular season in a 12:00 p.m. PT start Sunday at Sunken Diamond. Catch the game live by tuning into the Beaver Sports Network or listening on the Internet at Beaver Nation Online (osubeavers.com) with Mike Parker calling all the action.

Oregon State Notes: Michael Miller extended his hit streak to a season-long six games with a double in the second … Jared Norris moved his to three games, a stretch in which he has walked seven times … Stefen Romero posted his 21st multi-hit game of the season … His home run in the second was his fifth homer of the season and first since April 24 at UCLA … Each of Romero’s five home runs this season have come away from Goss Stadium … The relief outing was the first of the season for Tanner Robles, who had started his previous seven games … James Nygren’s appearance was his first since May 9 against Washington.

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