Better execution offensively and defensively helped the Beavers win a close, thrilling ballgame.
After Herculean efforts by Dallas Baptist to create playable field conditions after Friday morning storms, the Oregon State Beavers held off the Texas Longhorns on Friday for a seesaw 5-4 victory in the Dallas Regional's opening contest at a soggy Horner Park.
The game didn't feature a single extra-base hit through seven innings thanks to a fantastic play by center fielder Zane Gurwitz in the seventh when he robbed Oregon State of a home run with a leaping grab:
That changed in the top of the eighth, however, as second baseman Brooks Marlow crushed a two-run home run over the right-field fence to tie the game at 4-4:
Unfortunately, a leadoff walk from reliever Kirby Bellow ended up scoring on an RBI double by Oregon State in the bottom of the eighth, the first Beavers extra-base hit of the game.