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'Thursday Night Baseball' preview: No. 1 Oregon State at Oregon

by Jocelyn Perry
May 10, 2017
GoDucks.com / Oregon State Athletics

Who: Oregon State at Oregon

When: Thursday, May 11 at 6 p.m. P/7 MT on Pac-12 Network and Pac-12 Oregon

On the Call: JB Long and Kevin Stocker

Where: PK Park, Eugene, Oregon

Get ready, baseball fans. This week’s edition of Thursday Night Baseball heads to the PNW for the Civil War series. The unanimous No. 1 team in the land, Oregon State, makes the 40-mile trek South to take on Oregon and renew their rivalry.

Back on May 2, the Beavers were victorious, 4-1, over the Ducks in their only matchup of the season to date. Darn you, rainouts. OSU’s Jordan Britton and Brandon Eisert combined to hold the Oregon offense to two hits and a walk.

Take a look below to see what’s on tap for Thursday:

In the visitor’s dugout: No. 1 Oregon State Beavers (38-4, 21-3 Pac-12)

The top-ranked Beavers head to Eugene ranked first in many national statistical categories, leading the country in ERA (1.99) and WHIP (.99), while tallying nine shutouts on the season. OSU is currently maintains a 6.5 game lead over second place in the Pac-12 standings. The Beavs are in the driver's seat in term of clinching the division, needing just two more wins to lock up the crown. Oregon State head coach Pat Casey is two wins away from his 1,000th career win in his 23rd season in Corvallis and 30th overall.

Players to Watch:

Jake Thompson, RHP, Redshirt Junior

Thompson secured NCBWA National Pitcher of the Month honors for April after going 4-0 on the month with a 0.71 ERA. He improved to 10-0 on the year after helping Oregon State to a 10-2 victory with his 6 ⅓ innings of work against California this past Sunday.

Nick Madrigal, INF, Sophomore

Madrigal leads the Beavers in hits (67), runs (41), and slugging percentage (.558). The sophomore sensation totaled four hits in Oregon State’s 11-10 win over California last week, and his RBI single in the seventh proved to be the game-winner. Madrigal has had three four-hit games in his career, twice coming in his rookie season. Also a threat with his feet, Madrigal leads the Pac-12 in stolen bases with 13 this year.

In the home dugout: Oregon Ducks (26-18, 9-12 Pac-12)

The Ducks are looking to bounce back in a big way, as they come into the Civil War series winning three of their last 10 outings. History has trended on Oregon’s side in Eugene, as the Ducks are 85-78 all time at home over the Beavers.

Players to Watch:

David Peterson, LHP, Junior

Peterson comes into the series as the reigning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week and recipient of two national weekly accolades: Collegiate Baseball’s National Player of the Week and NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week. Peterson set the single-season Duck strikeout record after hurling 10 strikeouts against Washington State on May 6. The Denver native has 117 strikeouts this year and counting to also lead the Pac-12. Peterson ranks third in the conference with a 1.99 ERA and earlier this season dealt Arizona State 20 strikeouts.

Kyle Kasser, INF, Junior

Kasser leads the Ducks with 54 hits and 26 runs this season to date. He’s driven in 20 runs and went 5-for-11 in his last Pac-12 series (against Washington State).

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