The 3-2-1: Oregon State battles against Arizona schools
The No. 2 Oregon State Beaver baseball team opened their conference schedule with a series sweep of the Arizona State Sun Devils over the weekend, there first since 1966. Oregon State allowed just one run and nine hits in the three-game series and outscored the Sun Devils a combined 16-1.
With the sweep, Oregon State improves to an overall 17-1 record, extending their winning streak 12 consecutive games. They host Arizona this weekend, who is ranked as the No. 9 team in the nation, according to baseballamerica.com
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Three things we learned from last weekend
1. Luke Heimlich is the real deal
In Thursday’s game, Heimlich held Arizona State to just two hits in eight innings en route to his fourth win of the season. With the win, Heimlich's ERA lowered to a staggering 0.25 on the year through 36.2 innings pitched. What may be most impressive about Heimlich so far this season is that he continues to pitch extended innings and remains almost flawless. Thursday marked the third consecutive game in which he pitched at least eight innings - outpacing the other ERA leaders around the country. As of now, it’s hard to leave Heimlich out of the national spotlight because there doesn’t seem to be other pitchers performing at the level he has through the Beavers strength of schedule so far. If his phenomenal play continues through the tough Pac-12 schedule, Heimlich should absolutely be in talks for the National Pitcher of the Year award.
2. Oregon State likes to strike early and harness momentum
On both Thursday and Friday, the Beavers scored two runs early during the first innings. Despite being unable to score in the first on Saturday, Oregon State has outscored their opponents 25-3 on the season in just the first inning alone. It seems that the Beavers are able to find their offensive groove early in games and rely on their pitching staff when needed. The benefit of scoring early is that it exploits weakness from an opponent from the get-go and forces managers to consider pitching changes before wanting to make a change. This has given the Beavers an advantage when it comes to hitting because they have often been successful in capitalizing on inexperienced pitchers.
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3. Jake Thompson is a close second behind Heimlich
With the win on Saturday, Thompson improved to 5-0 on the season. He allowed just three hits to Arizona State behind a career-best 10 strikeouts in 7 innings, making his ERA 1.08. While Heimlich rightfully deserves the spotlight, Thompson has looked almost equally impressive. To this point, Thompson has been the second-best option behind Heimlich. If the Beavers are to continue their winning ways, Thompson is going to be the unsung hero who may not get the attention but plays well despite the pressure. He will get a great chance to show if he can keep pace with Heimlich in the upcoming series against Arizona.
Two Questions
1. Will Nick Madrigal keep his hitting pace?
About one month ago, I asked a similar question when Madrigal was hitting at .423. I questioned whether he would be able to keep up not only the strong hitting but also his production from a double-hit sense in addition to RBI production. It seems that Madrigal has not missed a beat as he is currently hitting a Beaver best .426 on the season. In his 68 at-bats, Madrigal has 29 hits, 11 RBIs, and three home runs. He is also the only Beaver this season to reach a 10-game hitting streak. Madrigal has not only been the best hitter this season for the Beavers but has also been a key component to the Beavers early scoring ability. For the Beavers to continue their winning ways against Arizona, it’s going to be vital for Madrigal to continue his success.
2. Will Oregon State’s pitching stand the test against their toughest opponent yet?
The Beavers, who lead the nation in ERA, will face arguably their toughest series beginning next Friday against the No. 9 Arizona Wildcats. In their last four games, the Wildcats have scored a combined 63 runs on 62 hits. Arizona leads the Pac-12 currently in batting average, slugging percentage and lead in runs scored and total hits. The Beavers will face their biggest challenge on the mound so far this season when they play Arizona. It’s likely the Beavers will be highly considered for the number one overall spot when the rankings are revealed on Monday. With the pressure and spotlight potentially on the Beavers, it’s key that their pitching carries them once again through the series against Arizona.
One Prediction
Oregon State will win the Arizona series but will not sweep
The Beavers will be home for their upcoming series against the Wildcats who sit in 2nd place in the Pac-12. The Beavers enter the series on a 12-game win streak and a lot of momentum. I think the Beavers will win the series against Arizona, finishing with a 2-1 record. Oregon State has a great opportunity to show they are deserving of their high ranking in the upcoming series and I expect that the Beavers will get the better of Arizona. To give a quick second prediction, I expect Heimlich to give up just two runs in the game that he is on the mound. Arizona does a lot of things right, but I foresee the Beavers playing to their home stadium advantage in a big way to get the series win 2-1.