The Seattle University baseball team had its chances to pull off the series sweep, but timely hitting and solid relief pitching allowed Oregon State to earn the split of the two-game set with a 4-2 victory Wednesday afternoon at Goss Stadium.
After a rain delay of one hour and 23 minutes, Oregon State put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth inning. Michael Miller laid down a bunt that Max Whieldon (Trabuco Hills, Calif.) fielded, but first baseman Riley Tompkins (Lynnwood, Wash.) was too far off the bag to accept a throw, allowing Miller to reach. Ryan Barnes followed with a double to left field, driving in Miller to give the Beavers a 3-2 lead.
Oregon State (16-5) extended its lead in the bottom of the sixth inning as Danny Hayes hit a one-out double to left-center field and came around to score on a single by Jared Norris. Meanwhile, Ben Wetzler pitched 3 2/3 innings of three-hit relief to earn the victory, while Matt Boyd struck out four batters as he pitched two perfect innings for his second save of the season.
The Beavers took the early lead for the second straight day as Norris led off the bottom of the third with a single and Kavin Keyes followed with a double to put runners on second and third base. Miller drove in Norris with a sacrifice fly to right field, and Barnes followed with a double to left field that scored Keyes.
Seattle U responded in the top of the fourth inning, starting with a single by Doug Kincaid (Portland, Ore.) and a walk to Josh Kalalau (University Place, Wash.). After Matt Comer (Bozeman, Mont.) sacrificed the runners over to second and third, Steve Kirbach's (Kirkland, Wash.) grounder to second base was deep enough to score Kincaid.
After a walk to Nick Latta (Tacoma, Wash.), Tompkins sent a single through the right side to bring in Kalalau. However, after Tompkins started a rundown between first and second, Latta attempted to score, but was thrown out at the plate for the final out of the inning.
Whieldon allowed seven hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings of work, striking out four Beaver batters along the way. Bryan Dalton (Vancouver, Wash.) allowed one hit and three walks in 2 1/3 innings on the mound, but did not allow any runs thanks in part to two strikeouts.
Kalalau was the only Redhawk batter with a multiple-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Barnes, Hayes, and Norris collected two hits apiece for the Beavers, who outhit the Redhawks, 8-5.
Seattle University (9-7) will head north to Portland for a two-game series against the University of Portland Pilots. The schedule for that series has been adjusted, with games now taking place Thursday and Friday, March 24 and 25, starting at 3 p.m. each day. Live audio for both games will be available on GoSeattleU.com.
