Beavers downed by the Dons

After a 15-0 start to the season, Oregon State lost its first game of the season, 5-1, to the University of San Francisco Tuesday night at Goss Stadium.

Oregon State played its worst game of the season in every facet.

“The beat us in every aspect of the game,” said head coach Pat Casey. “We didn’t come to play. … Everybody’s going to give us their best effort and I expect us to give our best effort. We didn’t play well in any aspect of the game and the result is you get beat.”

While No. 3 Oregon State allowed a season-high five runs, it was a lack of offense that cost Oregon State a chance to move to 16-0.

Oregon State struggled mightily, recording only one run — a home run from sophomore right fielder Dylan Davis in the sixth inning — and a season-low four hits. Even with three errors committed by USF, the Beavers were never able to capitalize.

“To come out and get four hits, I would say that’s not a very competitive effort,” Casey said. “We swung at pitches we shouldn’t [have], and we didn’t swing at pitches we should. They just outpitched us, outhit us, outplayed us.”

USF sophomore left-hander Christian Cecilio dominated the Beavers, not allowing a hit through four innings. Following OSU’s first hit of the game — an infield single by junior third baseman Jerad Casper — right-hander Haden Hinkle replaced Cecilio.

Hinkle was nearly as good, allowing Oregon State’s only run over the next three innings, before right-hander Adam Cimber closed out the game with a save.

“They pitched really well,” Davis said. “I think it was just one of those days where they caught us off guard. They did a good job mixing up pitches and did what they had to do by keeping us off balance.”

While San Francisco’s pitchers were lights out, Oregon State was its own worst enemy Tuesday night.

“We beat ourselves out there,” Davis said. “People just tried to do too much, maybe pressing a little bit. We got [away from] what we were doing in the first 15 games.”

Offensively, the Dons struck early, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Dons tacked on another run in the third and two more in the seventh to secure the 5-1 win.

Junior right-hander Dan Child struggled in his fifth start of the year. Child allowed three runs in just two innings of work, giving up three walks, two hits and two wild pitches.

“He wasn’t very sharp, that’s for sure,” Casey said.

Even the Oregon State bullpen had some issues.

While the staff of relievers allowed only two runs in seven innings of relief, that number equaled the unit’s season total entering Tuesday’s game.

Sophomore left-hander Tyler Painton was one of the lone bright spots for OSU, allowing no earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Sophomore left-hander Zack Reser allowed two base runners in the seventh inning, before being replaced by junior Cole Brocker.  
Junior right-hander Tony Bryant replaced Brocker after only one batter, and wasn’t able to escape a bases-loaded jam, allowing two runs to score.

“We left balls over the middle of the plate,” Casey said. “We didn’t take care of business.”

The Beavers will try to bounce back tomorrow night against the Dons. With a weekend series against the defending national champions — No. 20 Arizona — starting on Friday, regaining momentum is important for Oregon State.

“[Winning tomorrow] will be pretty big, momentum-wise,” Davis said. “We have to come out tomorrow and really jump on them. We need to bounce back tomorrow.”

The first loss of a season can oftentimes induce a hangover effect. But bouncing back is something Oregon State isn’t worried about.

“We’ll be fine,” Davis said. “We’re a good team and we know how good we are. I know we’re going to react well. Talking with everyone in the locker room, we just want to get back out there and play again. I wish we could play right now.”

Oregon State and USF finish the two-game series tonight at 5:35 at Goss Stadium. Senior right-hander Taylor Starr is expected to start on the mound for Oregon State.

Andrew Kilstrom, sports editor
On Twitter @AndrewKilstrom
sports@dailybarometer.com