Baseball’s Rally Falls Just Short In Finale

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Troy Claunch hit his second home run of the season and Oregon State scored two more runs in the ninth but the Beavers' rally fell just short in a 5-3 loss to USC Sunday afternoon at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field.
 
Claunch drove in his second run of the game to make it a three-run game, and scored when Jake Dukart doubled to right center, making it a 5-3 game. Dukart, though, was stranded at second to end the game.
 
The Beavers still took the series after defeating USC, 5-4, Friday and 9-7 on Saturday. OSU is now 31-15 overall on the year and 13-8 in Pac-12 Conference play. The Trojans, meanwhile, are 20-21 overall and 8-13 in Pac-12 action.
 
Claunch's home run, over the left field fence, tied the game at one in the sixth inning but two innings later the Trojans went up for good with a four-run eighth. Garret Guillemette drove in two on a single, which was followed by a two-run double by Carson Wells.
 
Three of the four runs in the eighth were charged to OSU reliever Chase Watkins, who dropped to 2-3 on the year.
 
Jake Pfennigs made his ninth start of the season for the Beavers and worked five full innings before Bryant Salgado came on in relief in the sixth. Pfennigs scattered five hits and a run with one walk and one strikeout. He did not figure in the decision.
 
Pfennigs' lone run allowed came on a third-inning single by Ben Ramirez.
 
USC starter Alex Cornwell did not allow a baserunner until Claunch's home run in the sixth. He allowed two hits and a run in 6 1/3 innings, striking out eight. Like Pfennigs, he did not figure in the decision.
 
The win went to USC reliever Toby Spach, who came on to get the final two outs of the seventh. He is 2-0 this season.
 
Next Up
Oregon State hits the road for a three-game series next weekend at Arizona State. First pitch Friday in the opener is slated for 6:30 p.m. PT.
 
Follow The Series
The series with the Sun Devils will have a live stream provided by Arizona State; visit osubeavers.com for the live video direct link. Live stats, info on the Beaver Sports Network and TuneIn and more can also be found by visiting osubeavers.com.
 
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