On the surface you have a potential mismatch. Oregon State a perennial power in College baseball and the defending National Champions facing Cincinnati a team that finished the regular season at 30-29 and is making its first trip to the NCAA Tourney in 45 years.
The Bearcats held a workout at PK Park in Eugene this week and took a tour of Autzen Stadium. Their head coach Scott Googins is excited for his players and wants them to enjoy this week. Can they stick with OSU beginning tonight at 7:06 pm?
He told reporters at a news conference in Corvallis:
“We’ve gone through some trials and tribulations throughout this season, and to overcome some of those obstacles, and for these seniors to be able to experience this, it’s great."
Googins is in his second-year with the Bearcats and has heard all about the love for Oregon State Baseball here in the Northwest and especially at Goss Stadium.
“The other part is being at a venue like this. They’ve got great fans here, I’ve heard from a lot of different people that the fans are very knowledgeable, they’re into the games. So it’ll be a great environment, and I’m excited for our guys and our program.”
The Bearcats lost nine of their first ten games all on the road early in the season. But the standout play mainly by a large group of seniors and juniors led them to a 29-20 record the rest of the way including four straight wins in the American Athletic Conference Tournament and they dominated outscoring their opponents 51-21.
Tonight Bryce Fehmel gets the start for the Beavers 7-3 on the season with a 3.34 ERA. The Bearcats send Clayton Colvin to the mound. He is a right-handed pitcher with a record of 5-2 and an ERA of 5.48.
The Beavers have finished the season in less than stellar style. 5-5 in their last ten games but have a ton of post-season experience.
You can hear the game on Rip City Radio 620 at 6:30 pm with pregame coverage. Mike Parker and Jim Wilson will call the action beginning at 7:06 pm.
Creighton and Michigan play the first game at 1:pm.