The scenario is simple: The Oregon State baseball team has to win all three games this weekend if they are going to have any chance of making the postseason for a fourth consecutive season. And even if they win all three games it does not guarantee anything for the two-time defending national champs. The Beavers are two games under .500 in conference play and in eighth place headed into the final weekend.
A lot can change after this weekend with several big Pac-10 series being played in the next three days. The Beavers still have more conference wins than three teams ahead of them, but it will take a couple of weekend sweeps if the Beavers are going to jump up in the conference standings.
“We just gotta play hard and try to have fun,” center fielder Chris Hopkins said. “We can’t take [Pacific] lightly. We still have a chance.”
There is still a chance of postseason aspirations, for several reasons.
Although the Beavers had a much better non-conference record last year that boosted their resume, they also had fewer conference wins with only 10. Not to mention Oregon State played one of the hardest schedules in the nation this season with games against so many ranked teams it would discourage your brain to read them all in one sentence.
There is still hope, but there is no room for error this weekend.
“We gotta stay positive and just focus on winning tomorrow,” third baseman Drew George said. “That’s the biggest thing. Hopefully we can get some wins and keep on playing.”
The Beavers have a good chance to do some damage this weekend against the Tigers, as Pacific (14-38) has struggled though a tough season. As a team they bat only .266 and only three players hit over .300 on the season led by freshman outfielder Nick Longmire at .335. The Tigers do have a weapon on the base paths with catcher Joe Oliveira as he has 24 stolen bases on 27 attempts on the season.
The pitching has not been a strong point either as the team ERA is 6.38 and opposing teams hit .327 on the season. Oregon State has not scored in the last 15 innings and needs to get on track offensively if the Beavers are going to give themselves a chance. Consistency has been a problem for this young team all season as they have won a lot of big games and lost a lot of bad games. That is a trademark of a young team, according to coach Pat Casey.
“I think there are some times where this team has done some great things, and there are other times when we have shot ourselves in the foot,” Casey said. “We are a young team, and that is what happens when seven of your first 11 pitchers are freshman.”
This is going to be a big weekend as well for the seniors on the OSU roster. Sunday’s game is Senior Day, and Oregon State will honor nine seniors before the start of the game. Pitchers Mike Stutes and Reed Brown, catcher Eric Ammon, infielders Drew George, Lonnie Lechelt and Jordan Lennerton and outfielders Chris Hopkins, Braden Wells and Daniel Robertson will all be recognized.
This is arguably the most decorated senior class in any sport in the history of Oregon State athletics and if things do not go in the Beavers’ favor this weekend it could be the last time they will wear the Oregon State uniform. Either way it has been a great ride for many in this senior class.
“It’s been fun,” George said. “It’s been nice since I’m from nearby Lebanon. My family has been able to come to my games, and it’s been great. I always grew up wanting to be a Beaver. It’s been a fun time.”
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