Keudell Tosses Gem, But Not Enough In Loss To OSU

Tuesday, May 19

Corvallis, Ore.

5:00 PM

University of Oregon

14-38

Oregon State

32-16

Oregon Ducks

Oregon State

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

05/20/09 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

CORVALLIS, Ore. ? Oregon State found a way to hit the ball in pivotal situations, and that proved to be the difference in the Beavers' 2-0 victory over Oregon on Tuesday evening at Goss Stadium.

Both starters, Oregon State's Tyler Waldron and Oregon's Alex Keudell, limited scoring opportunities for their opponents, but it was the Beavers (32-16) who took advantage of the chances they had.

Oregon State took the game's first lead in the bottom of the second when John Wallace laced a two-out double down the right field line to score Aldaberto Santos.

The Beavers doubled the lead to a 2-0 advantage in the fifth when a leadoff walk issued to Wallace came back to haunt Keudell. Wallace moved around the bases on a sacrifice bunt and ground out, and came home from third on Rob Folsom's RBI single to center.

Waldron (5-3) tossed 7 and 1/3 innings in the win, dealing an Oregon State career-high 10 strikeouts, while limiting the Ducks to five hits. He combined for the shutout with reliever Kraig Sitton and closer Kevin Rhoderick.

Rhoderick retired the side in order in the top of the ninth picking up his eighth save of the season.

Oregon (14-38) left six runners on during the game, failing to take advantage of scoring opportunities in three different innings.

The best opportunity came when Oregon junior center fielder Kenny Bartz put OSU's 2-0 lead in jeopardy during the top of the eighth, driving a one-out triple over the head of Wallace in center field. Waldron then walked Danny Pulfer before he was lifted in favor of Sitton, a left-handed reliever.

The Ducks countered by bringing right-handed hitter Caleb Tommasini in to pinch hit with runners on the corners and just one out, but Sitton won the duel, forcing Tommasini to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. The Ducks also had opportunities to score in the second and third, stranding two runners in each inning.

Oregon was within striking distance of the Beavers because of Keudell's (0-5) performance on the mound. The right-hander tossed his first complete game of the year, pitching eight innings of two-run baseball and surrendering just four hits and three walks while dealing a career-high six strikeouts.

The Ducks and Beavers will play final game of their six-game season series at Volcanoes Stadium in Salem-Keizer tomorrow. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.

Notes: In his last nine games with an at-bat, freshman Antony Kreitz has reached safely...Oregon was shut out for the fifth time this season and the third time in its last four games...Oregon State now leads the 2009 series with Oregon, 4-1...the Ducks are now on a season-long nine-game losing streak.