No. 9 Oregon State baseball hosts rival No. 22 Oregon in pivotal three-game set

Jarrid Denney, Salem Statesman Journal

For much of the 2024 season, Oregon State and Oregon have looked like the clear frontrunners in the Pac-12.

When the No. 9 Beavers (31-9, 10-7 Pac-12) and No. 22 Ducks (28-12, 11-7) meet this weekend, though, both programs will be looking to bounce back from rocky stretches. Oregon State will host Oregon for a three-game set at Goss Stadium beginning at 6:05 p.m. Friday (Pac-12 Oregon).

The in-state rivals will then face off for a midweek matchup at PK Park in Eugene on April 30.

For Mitch Canham's Beavers and Mark Wasikowski's Ducks, the next four games could ultimately be season-altering.

Here's what you need to know about the upcoming rivalry series in Corvallis.

What's at stake in Oregon State baseball vs. Oregon series?

Oregon State dropped four games — including a three-game sweep at the hands of Cal in Berkeley — last week before getting back on track with a midweek win over Portland. Oregon lost two of three at Stanford during the same weekend. That enabled No. 16 Arizona (25-14, 13-5) to leapfrog both teams and move to first place in the conference standings.

The Beavers will have an opportunity to repair their dented resume and begin climbing back up the national rankings. The Ducks will look to play the role of spoiler and prove that they belong in the conversation to host an NCAA regional in June.

Keys to victory

The Beavers' explosive offensive has papered over some glaring cracks this season.

Oregon State ranks 11th nationally with 78 home runs and has had no problem putting runs on the board. But its pitching staff has struggled for consistency for much of the season and was hit hard during all four losses last week.

The bullpen, in particular, has been a point of concern for the Beavers.

Oregon will be looking for more consistency from its starting rotation.

Friday starter RJ Gordon (nine earned runs in 5.0 innings) and Sunday starter Kevin Seitter (seven earned runs in 4.0 innings) were both shelled during their respective outings at Stanford.

The Ducks are also missing some thump in the middle of their batting order. Junior outfielder Jeffery Heard was the team's most productive hitter in February and March but has struggled mightily of late. Heard has just six hits in his last 39 at bats. As a result, Dominic Hellman and Mason Neville have both seen an uptick in playing time recently.

Players to watch

Oregon State

C Wilson Weber

Oregon State junior catcher Wilson Weber has been swinging one of the hottest bats in the Pac-12 over the past few weeks and has taken hold of the Beavers' starting catcher job. He produced several timely hits during the Stanford and Cal series while hitting out of the No. 4 and No. 5 spots in the batting order.

OF/DH Micah McDowell

Senior outfielder Micah McDowell was expected to be a mainstay in the middle of Oregon State's lineup this season, but missed nearly a month due to an injury he suffered in late March. McDowell returned to the field on April 19 and started two games during the Cal series, but went 0-for-8 during those appearances.

RHP Joey Mundt

Along with star closer Bridger Holmes, senior righty Joey Mundt has been one of the Beavers' few consistent bullpen options this season. After missing the 2022 and 2023 seasons due to injury, Mundt owns a tidy 2.00 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 18.0 innings this year. Lately, he has been the go-to guy for pitching coach Rich Dorman in high-leverage scenarios.

Oregon

1B Jacob Walsh

Oregon State star Travis Bazzana leads the Pac-12 with 19 home runs on the year, but Oregon first baseman Jacob Walsh isn't far behind. The standout junior has 16 long balls this season and is slashing .313/.415/.714. Walsh leads the Ducks with 45 RBI on the year, 20 more than any other player on the roster.

SS Maddox Molony

Former Thurston High standout Maddox Molony has been a breakout star for the Ducks during Pac-12 play. The freshman has taken hold of the starting shortstop job and is batting a team-best .361 with three homers and 11 RBI in 12 conference appearances.

LHP Grayson Grinsell

Sophomore lefty Grayson Grinsell has been the linchpin of the Ducks' pitching rotation this season while operating in the Saturday role. In 11 appearances, including eight starts, he owns 4.05 ERA — ninth-best in the conference — and has struck out 56 batters over 46 2/3 innings.

How to watch Oregon State baseball vs. Oregon

Here are the start times and TV listings for each of Oregon State and Oregon's upcoming matchups:

  • Friday: 6:05 p.m. (Pac-12 Oregon)

  • Saturday: 6:05 p.m. (ESPN2)

  • Sunday: 2:05 p.m. (Pac-12 Oregon)

  • Tuesday: 6:05 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks)

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

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon State baseball vs. Oregon Ducks: How to watch, game time

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