Despite Logan Ice belting his sixth home run of the season, the No. 7 Oregon State Beavers baseball team lost the final game of its series at Washington State on Saturday, falling 8-3 to the Cougars. WSU won two of three in the series.
Here’s more on the game from Oregon State athletics:
PULLMAN, Wash. – Logan Ice hit his team-leading sixth home run of the season but seventh-ranked Oregon State was unable to rally late in an 8-3 loss to Washington State Saturday at Bailey-Brayton Field.
Ice drilled a solo home run over the right field fence in the eighth to make it a one-run game at 4-3. The Beavers, however, were unable to score another before Washington State scored four in the bottom half of the inning to take a five-run lead.
The Beavers won the opening game of the series, 12-3, on Thursday, but WSU won game two, 7-5, on Friday and claimed the series.
Luke Heimlich struck out seven in his fifth start of the season, but allowed eight hits and four runs – two earned – over six innings and was charged with the loss. He dropped to 4-1 on the year.
Down 1-0 entering the third, the Beavers (23-9 overall, 6-6 Pac-12 Conference) put two runs on the board in the third thanks to four hits. Trever Morrison knotted the game at one with a double to right, then scored to make it 2-1 when Christian Donahue singled up the middle.
The Cougars (12-20, 5-10) scored the game’s next three runs – one apiece in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings – to take a 4-2 lead.
Washington State starter Ryan Ward allowed five hits and two runs in 2 1/3 innings. He was relieved by Sunitsch midway through the third. Ward, making his ninth start of the season, did not figure in the decision.
Sunitsch improved to 2-0 this season after tossing 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. He did not allow a hit, walked one and struck out three.
Ryan Walker, who Ice hit the home run off in the eighth, picked up his third save of the season.
The Beavers are back in action Monday night with a non-conference visit to Oregon at PK Park in Eugene. The game is slated for a 6:05 p.m. PT start and can be watched live on Pac-12 Oregon and by visiting Pac-12.com/Live.
