Kerry Eggers

3 weeks ago | kerryeggers.com | Kerry Eggers

“Adley is already a great catcher, and he is going to be a great hitter for us,” the former OSU skipper told me then. “And he is going to be a star in the big leagues.”Rutschman put together back-to-back .400 seasons in 2018 and ’19, collecting a total of 26 four-baggers and 141 RBIs in 124 games. He was the MVP as the Beavers won the College World Series as a sophomore and National Player of the Year as a junior and the first pick in the 2019 major league draft.

3 weeks ago | kerryeggers.com | Kerry Eggers

First baseman Tyce Peterson, who had been sizzling hot at the plate on Sunday — 7 for 10 — told Canham before Monday’s game he couldn’t go due to the effects of shin splints. That gave a start to Jacob Krieg, the 6-5, 240-pound junior who lost his starting job to Peterson late in the regular season after an extended slump. Krieg came through with a big performance, contributing a walk, a single to left and a towering three-run homer in the eighth, his 13th four-bagger of the season.

3 weeks ago | kerryeggers.com | Kerry Eggers

The partisans were rewarded with some of the best playoff baseball in program history. Witness the play that set the tone in the victory over the Trojans, who came in 2-0 after wins over Saint Mary’s and TCU, needing only one more “W” to advance to a Super Regional. After Oregon State went down in order in the top of the first — Oregon State was the visiting team in both Sunday games — Brayden Dowd opened SC’s half of the inning with a single.

3 weeks ago | kerryeggers.com | Kerry Eggers

“You have to tip your cap to the young man. He threw it extremely well, and we never really adjusted to what he was doing. It felt like he was always on the attack and in positive counts.”Whitney (6-3) was asked if he was extra juiced for his first taste of the postseason. “My mindset was no different than any other game,” said the 6-5, 205-pound native of Blackfoot, Idaho. “My stuff is not going to get nastier. I am not going to throw harder. I just attacked the hitters the same way I do every time.

3 weeks ago | kerryeggers.com | Kerry Eggers

OSU third baseman Trent Caraway blasted a moon shot over the left-field wall for a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh to make it 6-3, and Easton Talt tripled home pinch-runner Dallas Macias for another run. The Beavers brought the tying run to the plate in Aiva Arquette, who struck out on three pitches to retire the side. After that, Castro used his sidearm style to stymie the OSU hitters. “Daniel is a great story,” Valenzuela said.