Catamounts Drop Series-Opener at No. 10 Oregon State

Kyle Harbison drove in three runs with James Hinson belting a two-run home run and Landen Morrison plating a pair on a double Thursday night, but 10th-ranked Oregon State scored in seven of the eight innings it took swings as Western Carolina dropped its nonconference series opener against the Beavers 20-7 at Goss Stadium in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Game two is slated for Friday with a 5:35 p.m. PT / 8:35 p.m. ET first pitch. The game can be seen with a video stream online through the Pac-12 Insider (paid subscription required) with live streaming audio through OSUBeavers.com heard via the Varsity Network – download the free Varsity Network app for the live game broadcast. Live stats will also be available through a link at CatamountSports.com.

Garrett Forrester’s first of two home runs – a two-run shot in the home half of the first inning – handed the home squad a 2-0 lead before a two-out rally by the Catamounts in the top of the second. Jordan Starkes legged out a two-out double ahead of Hinson who blasted the seventh pitch of his at-bat over the fence in right-center field to tie the game at two.

However, Oregon State broke the tie with a second Forrester 2-run homer in the bottom of the second frame and Brady Kasper made it a four-run inning with a second 2-run blast for a 6-2 lead through two.

Morrison drove home two on a two-out double in the third only to see the Beavers find another four-run home half for a 10-4 advantage through three complete. Oregon State outscored the Catamounts 10-to-3 over the final six innings including a three-run seventh and another four-run frame in the eighth to provide the final tally.

Morrison led the Catamounts with three hits in a 3-for-4 effort, his third three-hit game in a Catamount uniform – and second in as many games. Harbison and Starkes both reached three times in 2-for-3 performances with a double, combining for two of the three walks drawn by WCU (21-30).

Oregon State (37-16) benefited from eight extra-base hits including five home runs and a combined 14 walks and two HBPs. Gavin Turley homered twice in a 3-for-5 effort with a game-high seven RBI with Forrester also hitting two home runs in a 2-for-4 effort with four RBI to pace the Beavers. Micah McDowell also doubled twice in a 2-for-4 showing at the plate.

WCU starter Jonathan Todd (2-4) took the loss after allowing five runs on three hits over an inning and a third of work as the first of six Catamount pitchers used. Todd struck out two while issuing five walks. Freshman LHP Adam Quincy tossed a team-long 3.0 innings, tagged for four runs on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks.

Oregon State starter Ben Ferrer (2-1) struck out eight over 5.1 innings, limiting the Catamounts to four runs on five hits to earn the victory.