Oregon State baseball dominates Hawaii in 12-4 offensive showdown
The sixth-ranked Oregon State baseball team powered its way to a 12-4 victory over Hawaii today at Goss Stadium in Corvallis, Ore.
Dax Whitney, a Freshman All-American last year, allowed a season-high four runs in 6 2/3 innings. Whitney appeared to be in discomfort when he exited after throwing a 3-1 pitch to Noah Rodriguez. Whitney returned to the dugout in the ninth inning, but there was no immediate update on his health.
The Rainbow Warriors scored on their first at-bat when center fielder Kamana Nahaku smacked a leadoff homer, his second of the season.
The Beavers responded with three runs in the first inning and another in the second. The 'Bows closed to 4-3 on Tate Shimao's two-run homer in the third. After the Beavers extended their lead to 6-3, the 'Bows answered with Ben Zeigler-Namoa's run-scoring groundout in the fifth.
The 'Bows "kept coming back," UH coach Rich Hill said. "We punched them in the jaw. We couldn't contain it."
A single and ensuing error scored two OSU runs in the fifth inning. Shortstop Tyler Inge's run-scoring single made it 9-4 in the bottom of the fifth. Adam Haight's three-run blast in the eighth was the proverbial dagger.
Hill indicated there was no moral victory in fighting the good fight.
"All I know is when you line up against somebody, you're trying to beat 'em," Hill said. "I don't care where they're ranked or if this pitcher is good. Our guys are just as good as anybody in the country. I don't really buy into it."
