April 2, 2011
Oregon State 10, Arizona 4 (Box Score)
TUCSON, Ariz. - No. 23 Oregon State hit a pair of three-run home runs and added four runs in the ninth inning to even the three-game series against No. 18 Arizona with a 10-4 victory on Saturday afternoon at Kindall Field/Sancet Stadium.
Arizona (20-8, 2-3 Pac-10) picked up where it left off on Friday night, scoring three runs in the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead one day after shutting out the Beavers 18-0. But things fell apart in the fifth and sixth innings, and a late rally in the eighth inning fell short before Oregon State put the game out of reach.
Wildcat starter Kyle Simon, who had not walked multiple batters in the same game all season, issued consecutive walks to lead off the top of the fifth inning. After a pair of fly outs, Simon appeared to be on his way to working out of the jam. However, Ryan Barnes hit a high fly ball that went over the left field fence for his first career home run, which tied the game 3-3.
An inning later, Simon looked to have regained his form, recording two easy outs and seemingly a third. However, a ground ball deep in the hole to the left side of the infield was fielded by Alex Mejia, who turned and fired across to Cole Frenzel at first base, but Carter Bell was ruled safe on the play.
After a single put runners at the corners, Bryce Bandilla relieved Simon on the mound to face Ryan Dunn, who did not have an extra base hit on the season. But Dunn turned on a Bandilla pitch and pulled a home run over the left field fence to spot the Beavers a 6-3 lead.
Despite jumping out to the early 3-0 lead on Oregon State starter Josh Osich, the Wildcats struggled to produce much offense in the middle innings. That changed in the eighth inning against reliever Tony Bryant.
Robert Refsnyder, who tallied three hits on the day, delivered a one-out single. After moving to second on a wild pitch, Refsnyder advanced to third on Johnny Field's single through the left side. One out later, Mejia singled to center to drive in Refnsyder and cut the deficit to 6-4.
Momentum then appeared to be on the side of the Wildcats, particularly after Byrce Ortega reached on a single that deflected off the first base bag to load the bases with two outs. In stepped Joey Rickard, the club's top hitter over the first half of the season, with a chance to drive in the tying or potential go-ahead runs.
Bryant was able to settle in and induced an inning-ending ground ball to third base to escape further trouble and preserve the two-run lead.
A four-run top of the ninth inning by the Beavers all but ended the chances of a Wildcat comeback. Bryant retired the side in order in the home half of the ninth to earn his third save of the year.
Osich picked up the win with 7.0 innings of work in which he scattered seven hits and two walks with the three runs allowed.
Simon suffered just his second defeat of the season after tossing 5.2 innings. He gave up five runs on five hits and two walks.
The Wildcats squandered additional opportunities to tack on runs early in the ballgame. Despite scoring three runs over the first three trips to the plate, Arizona stranded five runners in those innings. In all, the Wildcats left nine runners on base.
Meanwhile, Oregon State (19-7, 1-1 Pac-10) capitalized on its scoring opportunities. The Beavers, who left six runners on base, were 5-of-13 with runners in scoring position and picked up eight two-out RBI, including six on the two three-run home runs.
The rubber match of the three-game series is slated for a noon (MST/PDT) start on Sunday at Kindall Field/Sancet Stadium.
