Oregon Ducks Baseball Vs. Oregon State Beavers Game Three Recap: Beavers Slam Ducks to Take Series

With control of the league title on the line, the Ducks and Beavers took the field in what amounted to a laugher after just three innings. The Beavers were able to capitalize on Duck errors early and a 5 run second inning featuring a Grand Slam from Michael Conforto; which gave him 4 of his 6 RBIS, to put the game out of reach. The Ducks would have their chances but superb individual efforts by the Oregon State defense would keep the Ducks from mounting much of a comeback. The Beavers hit the ball all over the yard, totaling 17 hits and chasing starter Jake Reed from the game in the third. Coach Horton summed up the game in simple terms, "We got whooped there's no question about it. I didn't ike the personality with which we tried to respond either... I felt like we were in a street fight, closing our eyes and trying to throw blows instead of throwing blows exactly at a target we want to hit."

Oregon State was able to capitalize early on a Duck mistake, lead-off batter Tyler Smith slapped a chopper up the third base line which Ryan Hambright tried to barehand but threw away allowing Smith to second. Michael Conforto's RBI single would give the Beavs the early 1-0 lead after one. Errors would rear their ugly head again in the second when Reed airmailed a throw to first on a bunt attempt and this one would hurt more than the last one. After a controversial call, in which should have resulted in an out, Michael Conforto took Jake Reed over the right field fence with a grand slam to give the Beavers a 6-0 lead. "We threw him the kitchen sink today, and he hit everything pretty hard when it mattered," added Horton about facing Conforto.

The Ducks would load the bases in the second but with two outs, JJ Altobelli's gap shot to right center would be reeled in with a diving catch by Max Gordon to keep the slate clean for Weltzer and the Beavers. An RBI single by Tyler Smith would extend the lead to 7-0 for the visitors and chase Jake Reed from the game after just 2.2 IP.

Oregon would score their first run since the third inning Friday much in part to an error allowing lead-off batter Mitchell Tolman to get to second. Scott Heineman singled him in to cut a run off the lead making it 7-1 after 4. The Ducks would strike again in the fifth using a lead-off double from Shaun Chase and then a ground rule double from Tyler Baumgartner to plate the run, but with runners on the corners, Ryon Healy would ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the fifth.

By the time Dylan Davis' hit and run plated Andy Peterson in the 8th, fans were already starting the trip home. Jimmie Sherfy came on in the eighth but was not effective as OSU put four more runs on the board. Oregon State would add one more in the ninth before retiring the Ducks in order to wrap up the game and series.

It's a hard thing to say, but they're the best team in the conference. Sometimes, you have to call it like you see it," Said coach Horton "We have a chance to win the series with the Beavers, but it's not the series we were pointing at." The Ducks have an off day tomorrow before making the trip up to Corvallis for a nonconference game before their final conference series in Salt Lake City. The series win puts OSU in great position to win the conference with only one series remaining and gives them the 2 game lead over Oregon and the tiebreaker. "We can't conclude the season with this game, we have got to learn from it and move forward," added Healy post game.