PNW College Baseball Scoreboard – March 7
D1
Oregon State 9, CSUN 2 – The 6th-ranked Oregon State Beavers took advantage of a big 6-run 6th inning to overpower CSUN 9-2 on Thursday night in Corvallis. Freshman right-hander Matthew Morrell picked up the win in relief, allowing 1 run over 1 inning pitched. CSUN’s Blake Ignaciak took the loss, failing to record an out while giving up 3 runs in the fateful 6th.
The game was tied 1-1 through the first 5 innings before Oregon State blew it open with 6 runs in the 6th. The rally started with a single and back-to-back walks before an error allowed the go-ahead run to score. Easton Talt added an RBI bunt single as the Beavers batted around. Levi Jones added 2-run single and Mason Guerra capped off the inning with an RBI knock to make it 6-1.
Third baseman Mason Guerra had a huge night, going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and 2 RBIs to lead OSU’s offense. Smith also had a big game, tripling in the 7th and driving in a run. Jacob Krieg launched a towering 2-run homer in the 7th as the Beavers broke it open.
CSUN struck first on Nathan Barraza’s RBI groundout in the 3rd to take a 1-0 lead before OSU tied it in the 5th. But the Beavers were in control after their 6-run outburst, improving to 12-1.
Gonzaga 7, Minnesota 3 – Gonzaga came out firing on all cylinders in this one, taking an early 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning on some sloppy Minnesota defense. The Bulldogs tacked on 3 more runs in the 4th with a 2-run double Tommy Eisenstat and Gage Mestas RBI single to make it 5-0. Minnesota finally got on the board in the 5th on a solo shot by Kris Hokenson, but Gonzaga answered right back in the bottom half. Eisenstat crushed a leadoff homer in the 6th and the Zags tacked on another run on a Jordan Hamberg sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 7-1.
Minnesota made things interesting by scoring 2 runs in the 8th on Charlie Sutherland’s pinch-hit 2-run blast to cut the deficit to 7-3. Gonzaga starter Michael Cunneely departed after 7 strong innings, turning it over to the bullpen. Justin Feld came on and slammed the door over the final 2 frames to secure the 7-3 victory for the Bulldogs.
Offensively for Gonzaga, Eisenstat was the star going 3-for-4 with a double, homer and 4 RBIs out of the DH spot. Mestas also had a nice day with 2 hits and an RBI. On the mound, Cunneely battled through 7 innings allowing just 3 runs on 4 hits to pick up the win. For Minnesota, Hokenson and Sutherland provided the only real offensive punch with each hitting a solo homer.
Game two of the series is tomorrow at 3pm on ESPN+
GNAC
Montana State Billings 7, Saint Martin’s 3 – MSU Billings jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning. Two batters were two hit by pitches, an RBI walk, RBI groundout and a key passed ball that allowed runs to score. The Yellowjackets tacked on 3 more runs in the 3rd, with an RBI walk from Garrett Smith and a 2-run single from Zach Barnes, to extend their lead to 6-0. Jake Finkelstein was cruising on the mound, shutting out the Saints through 7 innings while allowing just 5 hits.
Saint Martin’s showed some fight in the 8th, scoring 2 unearned runs thanks to two errors to cut the deficit to 7-2. The Saints had a chance in the 9th, loading the bases with just one out against reliever Baker. But they could only push across 1 run on Charlie Johns’ RBI single as Baker bounced back to record the final two outs and secure the 7-3 victory for MSU Billings.
Zach Barnes had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBIs.
These teams play a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at noon at SMU Baseball field.
NWC
Pacific 7, Bethany Lutheran 3 – Pacific took care of business at home against Bethany Lutheran, winning 7-3 behind a strong offensive output and solid pitching performance.
Pacific got off to a hot start, scoring two runs in the first inning on a two-run single by CJ Colyer to go up 2-0 early. They added two more in the third on a two-run homer by Colyer, his fifth of the season, to make it 4-0. The Boxers then broke it open with three unearned runs in the fourth, highlighted by Ty Yukumoto’s 2-run double to extend the lead to 7-0.
Starter Shawn Melrose was very impressive on the mound for Pacific, allowing just one earned run over 6 innings of work to earn the win and improve to 2-1. He allowed 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. Yukumoto and Colyer led the offensive charge, with Yukumoto going 2-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs. Colyer was 2-3 with a homer and 4 RBIs.
Bethany Lutheran finally got on the board with a run in the 5th on a sacrifice fly by Sam Jones. They added single runs in the 7th and 8th innings as well, but it was too little too late. Jones had a solid day at the plate, going 2-4 with 2 RBIs.
Series resumes tomorrow with a doubleheader.
NWAC
G1: Linn-Benton 12, Chemeketa 0 (7)
Linn-Benton
- Ethan Kleinschmit W, 6IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 12K
- Cameron Ordway 2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 SB
- Spencer Sullivan 1-3, 2B, 4 RBI
- Ethan Buckley 2-3, 3 RBI
G2: Linn-Benton 2, Chemeketa 0 (7)
Linn-Benton
- Kellen Segel 3IP, 0H, 0R, BB
- Gabe Brabec 4IP, H, 0R, 2BB, 3K
- Spencer Sullivan 1-2, R
Chemeketa
- Dylan Hanson 6IP, H, 2R, BB, 2K
G1: Umpqua 8, SW Oregon 3
Umpqua:
- Christian Sabagala W, 5IP, 4H, 2R, 0BB, 7K
- Liam Ouellette SV, 3IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 4K
- Danner Salisbury 2-4, 3 RBI, SB
- Cayden Lee 2-3, 2B, RBI
SWOCC:
- Isaac Roberts 1-3, 2 RBI
- Ryder Okimoto 3-4, 2B, SB
- Deyven White 1-4, 2B, RBI
G2: Umpqua 11, SW Oregon 3
Umpqua:
- Sam Coffman W, 5IP, 2H, 2R, 0BB, 7K
- Camden Johnson 3-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2R
- Danner Salisbury 3-4, 2B, RBI, 3R, SB
- Adam Harris 2-4, 2B, RBI
SWOCC:
- Bula White 1-4, HR (3), RBI
