CORVALLIS — For the second night in a row, Oregon State got a lights-out performance from its starting pitcher en route to a gritty win.

This time around, the Beavers benefited from a few dramatic late-inning moments at the plate to capture a series win over their in-state rival.

No. 9 Oregon State topped No. 22 Oregon, 4-2, Saturday at Goss Stadium. Jacob Kmatz tossed 6 1/3 innings and matched his career-high with 10 strikeouts. Oregon starter Grayson Grinsell battled Kmatz with a strong outing of his own and struck out eight while allowing just two runs on four hits over 6.0 innings.

But Beavers’ shortstop Elijah Hainline came through with the decisive knock when he cracked a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth to give the game its final score.

“I mean, you see how the fans react. … You really feel it. All you ever wanna do when you come to a new program is find a way to help them win,” Hainline, who played at Washington State last season, said. “That’s just been my goal since day one — to win baseball games. There’s no better place than Corvallis to do that.”

How Oregon State baseball beat Oregon in Game 2 of series

Kmatz neutralized a deep Oregon lineup that owns the second-best slugging percentage in the Pac-12. The junior right-hander held the Ducks to one earned run on two hits and did not allow a walk. But by the time he exited midway through the sixth, the game was still in the balance.

Canon Reeder got the Beavers on the board in the second with an RBI single to plate Wilson Weber, who reached on a leadoff walk.

One inning later Oregon second baseman Drew Smith punished Kmatz for one of his few mistakes on the night with a solo homer to left center to level the score.

From there, neither team was able to generate much offense as Kmatz and Grinsell settled in.

“We’re very excited to see (Friday starter Aiden May) and Kmatz go back-to-back — control their energy level and attack the zone,” Oregon State coach Mitch Canham said. “They’re getting ahead and it’s leading to strikeouts.”

In the bottom of the seventh, Oregon opted to send Grinsell back out to the mound with his pitch count sitting at 107. Brady Kasper greeted him with a leadoff double.

The Ducks then turned to flame throwing righty Brock Moore, who touched 102 miles per hour on the radar gun earlier this season. Hainline moved Kasper over to third with a sacrifice bunt, and then Dallas Macias smashed a line drive to the left side — but directly at UO shortstop Maddox Molony for the second out of the inning.

With OSU No. 9 hitter Jabin Trosky at the plate, Moore ran up a 2-2 count and was one pitch away from escaping the jam. But Trosky blooped a soft infield single to score Kasper from third and give the Beavers a 2-1 lead.

“Yeah, the guy was throwing really hard. But I just refused to strike out,” Trosky said. “That was my mindset; I was like, ‘I just have to put the bat on the ball.’ Sometimes good things happen, and luckily good things happened there.”

Trosky, a slick-fielding middle infielder who has made multiple starts at both shortstop and second base this season, made his first start of the season at third base on Saturday.

“He’s taken that on,” Canham said of Trosky’s shift to the hot corner. “He’s got great hands; he’s a defensive wizard. We know he can play (shortstop) and second. So, just being able to add a little depth over there at third is nice.”

After Trosky’s timely hit, Oregon answered back immediately. Mason Neville crushed a leadoff triple off the left field fence to open the top of the eighth. Later in the inning, Smith lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center field to tie the game at 2-2.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Beavers forced Oregon reliever Logan Mercado into a two-out jam when Weber reached on a walk and Jacob Krieg followed with a single to left.

Then, Hainline stepped to the plate and decided the game with a first-pitch single down the left field line.

“You’re really just trying to see the ball and get your swing off in a moment like that,” Hainline said of the at-bat. “The guys before me did a great job getting on base. (Brady Kasper) had a good at-bat; got out, but moved the runners over and put them in scoring position. Gave us a little leeway to just get me swing off and help the team win.”

As was the case on Friday, standout reliever Bridger Holmes shut the Ducks down in the ninth inning to close the door on a potential comeback.

Oregon State vs. Oregon series continues with Game 3 Sunday

The Beavers and Duck will close out the series at 2:05 p.m. Sunday (Pac-12 Oregon).

Eric Segura (5-0, 4.41 ERA) is expected to get the starting nod for Oregon State, while Kevin Seitter (4-3, 5.36) is slated to start for Oregon.

Jarrid Denney covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at JDenney@salem.gannett.com or on X @jarrid_denney

CORVALLIS The No. 9 Oregon State Beavers host the No. 22 Oregon Ducks Saturday night in Game 2 of a three-game series at Goss Stadium in Corvallis.

The rivalry matchup will air live on ESPN2.

The Beavers won the series opener, 2-0, Friday night, riding the brilliance of right-hander Aiden May, who stymied the Ducks with a career-best performance. The 6-foot-2 junior allowed just one hit — an infield single — over eight dominant innings, finishing with a career-high 14 strikeouts, as he helped the Beavers become the first team since March 2023 to hold Oregon scoreless.

The game did not come without drama.

Before the sixth inning, Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski requested that umpires check May for a for a foreign substance, a move obviously aimed at rattling the Beavers’ Friday night starter. It didn’t work.

May passed the inspection, then closed the door on the Ducks, retiring the next seven batters and nine of the final 10 he faced, allowing just one base runner over the final three innings.

(For more on Game 1, read this recap. For more on the series, read this weekend primer.)

Here are details about tonight’s game:

No. 9 Oregon State Beavers (32-9, 11-7 Pac-12) vs. No. 22 Oregon Ducks (28-13, 11-8)

When: 6:05 p.m. PT Saturday, April 27

Where: Goss Stadium, Corvallis

TV channel: ESPN2.

How to watch live stream online: The game will be streamed live by ESPN, which subscribers can access via the ESPN app or through their cable, satellite and streaming providers.

Radio: All games air on the Beaver Sports Network. Pregame starts 30 minutes before the first pitch. Affiliates include KEJO 93.7-FM and 1240-AM (Corvallis), KKNX 105.1-FM and 840-AM (Eugene), KCFM 104.1-FM and 1250-AM (Florence), KLAD 104.3-FM and 960-AM (Klamath Falls), KCFM 103.1-FM (Mapleton), KTMT 96.1-FM and 580-AM (Medford), KCMX 880-AM (Medford), KCMX 99.5-FM (Phoenix), KEX 1190-AM (Portland), KSKR 1490-AM (Roseburg) and KBZY 1490-AM (Salem). You can also listen online via the Varsity Network app.

Probable starters: OSU RHP Jacob Kmatz (5-1, 2.95) vs. UO LHP Grayson Grinsell (5-2, 4.05)

This and that: Kmatz is making his 11th start of the season and seventh in Pac-12 play. The 6-foot-3 junior has been consistent and often dominant this season, allowing two or fewer earned runs in seven starts, and he enters Saturday ranked fourth in the conference in ERA and tied for second in wins. In 55 innings, Kmatz has surrendered 40 hits and recorded 49 strikeouts. … Lost in May’s Friday night excellence was a return-to-form outing from closer Bridger Holmes, who tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his ninth save. He has converted nine of 10 save opportunities this season, but struggled last week, taking three losses as the Beavers languished through a four-game losing streak. … Travis Bazzana hit a solo homer in the third inning of Friday’s win, giving him 20 this season — one shy of Jim Wilson’s single-season school record. … The Beavers have won nine of their last 10 meetings against the Ducks. … Oregon State is 20-1 at Goss Stadium this season. … Gavin Turley went 2 for 4 with two doubles Friday, collecting two of the Beavers’ five hits in the game. Bazzana, Dallas Macias and Brady Kasper — who smashed a second-inning home run — had the other three.

BEAVERS PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

1. Travis Bazzana, 2B

2. Gavin Turley, LF

3. Dallas Macias, CF

4. Mason Guerra, 3B

5. Brady Kasper, RF

6. Jacob Krieg, 1B

7. Elijah Hainline, SS

8. Easton Talt, DH

9. Tanner Smith, C

DUCKS PROJECTED LINEUP

1. Justin Cassella, LF

2. Chase Meggers, C

3. Jacob Walsh, 1B

4. Anson Aroz, DH

5. Maddox Molony, SS

6. Mason Neville, RF

7. Drew Smith, 2B

8. Bryce Boettcher, CF

9. Carter Garate, 3B

— Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman | Subscribe to The Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

With the arrival of Jonathan Smith as Michigan State football’s new head coach, accompanied by his accomplished group of assistants from Oregon State, Michigan State is poised for a new era of Spartan football.

The staff’s impressive track record, including the recent production of the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Taliese Fuaga, and their role in transforming Oregon State into a competitive force, underscores their potential to develop talent and drive success at Michigan State.

Coach Smith and his assistants are bringing not just their expertise but also a culture of accountability, hard work and player development to Michigan State. This culture, which they successfully instilled at Oregon State, transformed the program into a competitive force. By laying this foundation at Michigan State, they are setting the stage for future success in their first season with the new scheme, staff and players.

Utilizing their experience in identifying and bolstering talent, the coaching staff can increase the potential of Michigan State’s roster. The presence of players who have benefited from structured coaching at Oregon State will provide a seamless transition into the Spartans’ program. These athletes bring with them not only skill and athleticism but also an understanding of the work ethic and discipline required to excel at the collegiate level.

The players that have transferred to Michigan State from Oregon State are not only talented players but have already competed under the coaching of Smith and the other coaches.

On the field, Smith and his assistants will implement strategic game plans tailored to the soundness of their players. Their ability to adapt and innovate, established at Oregon State, will be crucial in navigating the challenges of the newly revamped and competitive Big Ten conference. By leveraging the talents of their athletes and exploiting opponent weaknesses, they can position Michigan State for success in each game of the season.

Not only have Smith and the coaches surrounding him proven themselves on the field, but numerous players have pointed out how easy they are to connect with off the field. A few players have stated that Smith is mainly a very heart-warming guy, and he will be there for all his players and support them whenever they need it.

Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.