California at Oregon State
The Beavers swept California over the weekend and have now won eight in a row. In game one on Friday night, Matt Boyd set a new career high with 12 strikeouts in the 6-1 Beaver victory. Boyd went 8 and 1/3 innings and allowed one run on three hits. The lefty is now 9-2 on the year. Designated hitter Ryan Barnes led the Beavers with three RBI.
In game two on Saturday, Oregon State once again benefited from a dominating pitching performance. Andrew Moore, who pitched his first career complete-game, defeated California 5-0. Moore only allowed two hits and walked one, as he improved to 9-1 on the year. Second baseman Andy Peterson had three hits in the game, while right fielder Dylan Davis drove in three RBI.
In the series finale on Sunday, Oregon State finished off the sweep by a final of 6-4. Beaver starter Ben Wetzler picked up the victory after pitching 6 and 1/3 innings of two-run ball. Wetzler struck out 10 and did not walk a batter. First baseman Danny Hayes led the way for Oregon State with two RBI. The Beavers also got two hits apiece from left fielder Michael Conforto and catcher Jake Rodriquez.
Oregon State sweeps California
Oregon State: 37-8, 17-4
California: 21-26, 9-15
Oregon at Washington State
The Oregon Ducks matched the Beavers this weekend by sweeping Washington State. In game one on Friday, Oregon scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeated Washington State 5-3. Third baseman Mitchell Tolman had two hits and drove in three RBI for the Ducks. Left fielder Brett Thomas also had a day with four hits for Oregon.
On Saturday, Oregon defeated Washington State 6-3. Ducks starter Cole Irvin improved to 9-2 after battling through some early trouble. The lefty surrendered three runs, two earned, on six hits and two walks. He struck out five. Shortstop J.J. Altobelli had three hits, while first baseman Ryon Healy hit his Pac-12 leading 10th home run.
In the series finale on Sunday, Oregon capped off the sweep by scoring a run in the top of the 11th inning to claim a 4-3 victory. Third baseman Mitchell Tolman scored from first, after center fielder Austin Pernell misplayed a Scott Heineman single. Heineman led the way for Oregon with three hits. The win went to reliever Garrett Cleavinger, who is now 6-0 out of the pen.
Oregon sweeps Washington State
Oregon: 37-11, 19-5
Washington State: 20-23, 7-14
Utah at UCLA
UCLA continued the trend this weekend in defeating a team in the bottom half of the conference. The Bruins were able to take care of business by sweeping Utah. In game one on Friday, UCLA defeated Utah by a final of 5-2. Bruin starter Adam Plutko picked up his sixth win of the year, after pitching seven innings of two-run ball. He struck out five and did not walk a batter. Center fielder Brett Carroll had two hits to lead the Bruins.
On Sautrday, UCLA took the series with a 5-4 victory. Bruin starter Nick Vander Tuig improved to 8-3, after pitching 6 and 2/3 innings of two-run ball. He struck out six and had one walk. Closer Dave Berg picked up his 12th save of the year after pitching 1 and 2/3 innings. He struck out four hitters. Shortstop Pat Valaika had two hits to lead the UCLA. Five different Bruins each chipped in an RBI.
UCLA finished off the sweep on Sunday, after getting a sacrifice-fly in the bottom of the ninth inning to win 4-3. Redshirt freshman catcher Justin Hazard delivered the sac-fly for the Bruins, and closer Dave Berg picked up his sixth victory of the year. The Bruins had two hits from right fielder Eric Filia and shortstop Pat Valaika. UCLA has now won four in a row, as they prepare for a big conference series with Arizona next weekend.
UCLA sweeps the series.
UCLA: 31-13, 14-7
Utah: 16-26, 5-19.
Stanford at Arizona State
The Stanford Cardinal emerged from the weekend as the biggest winners in the Pac-12. The Cardinal won two out of three over the weekend against the Sun Devils. In game one on Friday, Stanford starter Mark Appel picked up his 8th victory of the year after defeating Arizona State 5-3. Appel had 13 strikeouts in 7 and 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits and one walk. The Cardinal offense was supplied by designated hitter Justin Ringo and center fielder Austin Wilson. Both players had two hits on the day, with Wilson driving in two RBI.
Saturday saw Stanford take the series after defeating Arizona State 9-8 in the 11 innings. The Sun Devils had a three run lead heading into the top of the seventh inning. With two outs, center fielder Austin Wilson drilled a three-run homer to tie the game at 7-7. In the 11th, first baseman Brian Ragira delivered a two-run single to give Stanford the lead. Arizona State would wind up scoring a run in the bottom of the 11th, but reliever Sam Lindquist held on to pick up his second victory of the year out of the pen. It was a big win for Lindquist, as A.J. Vanegas is still out with mono.
Arizona State was able to salvage the series on Sunday, with an 11-8 victory. The Sun Devils were led offensively by catcher Max Rossiter who drove in three RBI. Including Rossiter, five Sun Devils had two hits in the game. Rossiter, Trever Allen, and RJ Ybarra each homered for Arizona State.
Stanford wins the series 2-1.
Arizona State: 30-14-1, 12-9
Stanford: 26-16, 11-10
Washington at Arizona
On the flip side, Arizona is the Pac-12 team that had the worst weekend. The Wildcats lost the series at home to Washington. On paper, the loss is bad enough. Add the fact that the Arizona lost the Friday game 23-1, and its clear Arizona chance at hosting a regional could be fading away. In the 23-1 loss, Washington collected 30 hits, the most ever allowed in Arizona’s program’s history. The Pac-12 record for most hits in a game is 35. Washington batted around in the first three innings and by the end of the day, every Husky had multiple hits. Jayce Ray, Robert Pehl, and Parker Guinn each had four hits.
On Saturday, Washington scored an unearned run in the top of the 8th inning to win by a final of 2-1. After a leadoff single by Michael Camporeale opened the inning, Brian Wolfe squared to sacrifice. Arizona starter James Farris fielded the bunt, but there was nobody covering first base. Farris then attempted to pick off Camporeale at second base, but airmailed the throw into center field allowing both runners to score. It was a devastating loss for Arizona.
The Wildcats were able to salvage a bit of the series by defeating Washington 5-3. Catcher Riley Moore delivered a two out, two-run single to give Arizona the lead. The Wildcats would hold on for the victory. Closer Mathew Troupe picked up his fifth win of the year, after pitching 3 and 2/3 innings. He did not allow a run.
Washington wins the series 2-1.
Arizona: 29-17, 10-11
Washington: 16-29, 8-13
TCU at USC
The Horn Frogs took the series from USC this weekend in a non-conference matchup in L.A. TCU defeated USC 5-4 on Thursday. First baseman Derek Odell had three hits and drove in two RBI for TCU. Shortstop Keaton Jones also had three hits for the Horn Frogs.
On Friday, the Trojans took advantage of an eight-run fifth inning to win by a final of 9-3. Four Trojans had two hits in the game. USC starter Wyatt Strahan picked up his third victory of the year, after pitching seven innings of three-run ball.
In the series finale on Saturday, TCU defeated USC 3-0. TCU starter Andrew Mitchell went five innings, before turning it over to the Horn Frog bullpen. USC was only able to scatter two hits against the pen. TCU was led offensively by left fielder Boomer White, who had three hits on the day.
TCU wins the series 2-1.
Pac-12 Standings
Oregon State 17-4
Oregon 19-5
UCLA 14-7
Arizona State 12-9
Stanford 11-10
Arizona 10-11
California 9-15
Washington State 7-14
USC 8-13
Washington 8-13
Utah 5-19
Takeaways from the Weekend
Stanford taking the series from Arizona State is a big deal for the Cardinal. They jumped all the way to 71 in the latest RPI ranking. Stanford will have every opportunity to play their way into a regional. With series against Oregon State at home, California on the road, and UCLA at home, the Cardinal control their own destiny for a shot at the postseason.
Arizona loosing the series to Washington is a step backwards for the Wildcats. Possibly one could rationalize Arizona being beaten in a blowout during a midweek game. Maybe a loss of epic proportions on a Sunday could be understood. But 23-1 at home on a Friday night? Wildcat starter Konner Wade pitched 3 and 1/3 innings and allowed eight earned runs against a team that struggles offensively. With the series loss, Arizona drops to 81 in the RPI rankings. The Wildcats need to respond if they have any ambitions of playing in the postseason. Arizona finishes up at UCLA, at Arizona State, and home against USC.
Oregon State and Oregon appear to be heading for a showdown for the conference championship. The Beavers and Ducks both took care of business this weekend by sweeping teams in the bottom half of the conference. Oregon travels to Ohio State this weekend, while the Beavers travel to Stanford. On May 17, the next to last weekend in the season, Oregon State travels to PK Park to face Oregon. If the Beavers win the series against Stanford, the matchup in Eugene will not only be for the conference championship, but it will have a national seed hanging in the balance.
