Oregon State comeback falls short, No. 9 Stanford beats Beavers 9-8 in entertaining series opener

The Oregon State baseball staff had the previous excellent news, unhealthy information state of affairs Friday night time.

The excellent news: The Beavers’ bats had one other strong and inspiring efficiency, proving maybe as soon as and for all of the lineup’s March hunch is over.

The unhealthy information: It didn’t are available a win.

The Beavers suffered a troublesome 9-8 loss to No. 9 Stanford Cardinal at Sunken Diamond, dropping an entertaining opener of a three-game collection between the pair of Pac-12 powers.

The most important shock within the defeat, which despatched Oregon State (12-6, 1-3 Pac-12) tumbling all the way down to eighth place within the convention standings, was that probably the most dependable a part of the staff — and certainly one of its most reliable gamers — spurred the defeat.

With the sport tied 3-3 within the backside of the sixth inning, OSU starter Trent Sellers beaned Braden Montgomery and gave up a single to Malcom Moore with one out, prompting pitching coach Wealthy Dorman to tug Sellers in favor of preseason All-American reliever Ben Ferrer, the heartbeat of the pitching workers.

The reigning first-team all-Pac-12 pitcher, who had not allowed a run this season getting into the sport, promptly coughed up the lead — after which some — surrendering three consecutive singles and an Eddie Park grand slam to proper area.

The Beavers’ bullpen had been nails all season and particularly dominant in March, compiling a 4-0 report with a 1.36 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings. However briefly order, the Cardinal dismissed that dominance, touching Ferrer up for 4 runs (not together with the pair of inherited runners from Sellers) on 4 hits in 2/3 of an inning to take a commanding 9-3 lead.

Stanford (11-6, 2-2), which entered the sport main the Pac-12 in runs and residential runs, pounded out 10 hits, together with two homers, as all 9 starters recorded at the very least one hit.

The Beavers, who broke out of a March hunch with eight hits and 12 runs in a midweek win over Nevada on Wednesday, didn’t roll over towards the preseason Pac-12 favorites, nonetheless, battling again behind a resurgent outing from Ruben Cedillo and one other sturdy night time from Mason Guerra.

Cedillo belted two residence runs, together with a towering grand slam excessive into the left area timber within the seventh, in his most encouraging efficiency of the season. The switch outfielder from Linn-Benton Group Faculty, who had only one hit in earlier 16 at-bats getting into the sport, additionally hit a solo homer within the fourth and completed 2 for five with 5 RBIs and two runs scored.

Guerra, in the meantime, went 2 for 4 with a house run, double, two RBIs, two runs scored and a stroll. His homer, a blast to lifeless middle, got here with one out within the ninth inning and introduced the Beavers to inside one run. However Garret Forrester struck out wanting and Cedillo hit a ball to the warning observe in proper area to finish the rally — and the sport — sending the Beavers to their fourth loss within the final 5 video games.

Sellers (2-2) pitched nicely for 5 innings, however took the loss, surrendering 5 runs on six hits, whereas placing out 4, over 5 1/3 innings.

Subsequent up: Oregon State and Stanford play Sport 2 of the three-game set at 5 p.m Saturday. The sport will air dwell on the Pac-12 Networks.

— Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman | Subscribe to The Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the newest information and prime tales.