Baseball Drops Opener at Oregon State

CORVALLIS – The Utah baseball team came up just short against the No. 21 Oregon State Beavers on Friday in the first game of the series. Utah scored a run in the ninth and had a runner on third when Oregon State got the 4-3 win.
 
Heading into the ninth, the Utes were trailing 4-2 and quickly got two runners on. Shea Kramer knocked a single to score one run and to put runners on first and third. With two outs, Jaylon McLaughlin grounded out to end the Utes final threat.
 
Utah had their chances on the bases with six hits and seven walks on the night. Chase Fernlund went 2-4 and Jayden Kiernan got on base three times with his one hit driving in two runs.
 
Oregon State struck first scoring a run in the opening frame to take a 1-0 lead.
 
Utah starter Justin Kelly held them in check after that allowing the Utes to take the lead in the fourth inning. Jaylon McLaughlin started the inning with a double. After Matt Richardson drew a walk and Vinny Zavolta got hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded. With two outs, Kiernan hit a single up the middle to score two runs and go up 2-1 lead.
 
The Beavers bounced right back in the fifth. After getting the first three batters on to load the bases, they got a single followed by a deep fly ball to score a second runner. The third runner scored in the inning on a wild pitch to go up 4-2.
 
From there, neither team had much going at the plate until the top of the ninth. Utah got two walks to begin the inning leading to Kramer's RBI single to get within one run. Unfortunately, Utah was one more hit away from tying things up.
 
Justin Kelly surrendered four runs on nine hits in 5.0 innings pitched striking out five. Dustyn Schramm finished off the game pitching the final 3.0 innings and only allowed two hits.
 
Utah and Oregon State will play the second game of the series on Friday at 6:35. Kyle Robeniol will take the mound for Utah.