Minnesota baseball had opportunities to pull off a top-10 upset on Feb. 17 at the Sanderson Ford Baseball Classic, but No. 7 Oregon State held on for a 6-4 win on the second day of the showcase at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona. 

With the bases loaded in the ninth inning and one out while trailing by three, Minnesota was able to score just one run before Oregon State secured the win. 

The Gophers left 17 runners on base in the loss and Oregon State pitchers walked a whopping 12 batters. 

But OSU star freshman Trent Caraway hit another home run, his second in as many days, and top prospect Travis Bazzana wreaked havoc on the base paths with two steals, he also reached base four times. The Beavers scored five runs in one inning and it was enough win. 

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It's a missed opportunity for the Gophers, who had eight hits and outside of the third and fourth innings, kept the Beavers in check. Oregon State scored 15 runs in the day before against New Mexico. 

The game may be a warning sign for the No. 7 Beavers, who will play Arkansas on Feb. 23 at the College Baseball Showdown, if the pitching can't cut down on walks. 

But that's next week's problem. Oregon State will play CSU Bakersfield on Sunday and Minnesota again on Monday. Minnesota will end the Sanderson Ford Baseball Classic with New Mexico and Oregon State again. 

Read the game recap below.

Top Of Ninth Inning: Tying Run Was At The Plate With No Outs, But Oregon State Holds On For Win 6-4

The Beavers nearly blew a 6-0 lead to Minnesota and the tying run was at the plate in the top of the ninth with no outs before once again escaping the inning with the lead and this time the win. 

The Gophers were able to score one run on a sacrifice fly, but that was it. 

Minnesota left 17 on base

Scott Kyle picked up the save.  

Bottom Of The Eighth Inning: Minnesota Keeps Beaver off the Scoreboard

Minnesota will need to score three runs in the ninth inning to keep the game going after a rare 1-2-3 to retire the Oregon State side in the eighth inning. 

Top Of The Eighth Inning: Minnesota Cuts Into Oregon State Lead, Trail 6-3

Weber Neels drove in Jake Perry as the Gophers cut Oregon State's lead to three runs in the eighth inning after a pitching that saw Kyle Scott take over with two runners on. 

Oregon State, though, limited the damage to just the run as Minnesota stranded two runners. 

Bottom Of Seventh Inning: Minnesota Gets Out Of Inning With Double Play

The Gophers head to the eighth inning trailing 6-2. 

Top Of Seventh Inning: Minnesota Baseball Threatens Again, But Can't Score

Another inning, another leadoff batter got on base for Minnesota. But like every inning except the sixth, Minnesota couldn't score a run after back-to-back strikeouts from OSU reliever Nelson Keljo. 

Bottom Of Sixth: Travis Bazzana Bunts, Steals Base, Oregon State 6, Minnesota 2

Travis Bazzana is 3-for-3 with a double, single, bunt-hit and a walk. He stole his second base of the day but was left stranded on third base. 

The No. 3 prospect in college baseball is looking the part. 

Top Of Sixth Inning: Minnesota Again Loads Bases Against OSU. Scores This time. OSU 6, Minnesota 2

Oregon State has walked nine batters and Minnesota loaded the bases again with no outs. The Gophers were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position until Boston Merila had a sacrifice fly and Jake Perry hit an RBI single. 

Oregon State went to the bullpen after the two runs and two outs with the bases loaded again. 

Nelson Keljo entered the game and struck out Kris Hokenson to end the inning. 

Bottom Of Fifth Inning: Minnesota Goes To Bullpen

The Gophers face four Oregon State hitters with Tyler Hemmesch on the mound. It's 6-0. 

Top Of Fifth Inning: Ian Lawson Slams Door On Gophers. Oregon State 6, Minnesota 0

Despite having the bases loaded, Minnesota didn't score a run and reliever Ian Lawson ended the inning with a strikeout. 

Yes. Brady Counsell Is The Son Of Chicago Cubs Manager Craig Counsell

Brady Counsell has two hits and a double and has reached base three times. He should know baseball well as his dad is new Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell. 

His dad spent the last decade managing the Milwaukee Brewers after a long career in the Majors. Craig Counsell won two World Series rings with the 1997 Florida Marlins and the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks. 

The Chicago Cubs' spring training facility is in Mesa, Arizona, a short drive from Surprise, Arizona. 

Top Of Fifth Inning: Minnesota Has Loaded Bases, Trailing 6-0

The Golden Gopher loaded the bases. Oregon State recorded an out. The Gophers have put leadoff batters on base in four of the last five frames. 

But after two outs, Minnesota is on the verge of coming up empty. The Beavers are headed to the bullpen with Ian Lawson taking over on the mound.  

Bottom Of Fourth Inning: Oregon State Takes 6-0 Lead As Trent Carway Continues Big Debut

For the second day in a row, freshman Trent Carway hit a home run and a double. The freshman doubled with one out, Travis Bazzana walked and Mason Guerra hit an RBI single to add another run. 

Top Of Fourth Inning: Minnesota Can't Score After Leadoff Walk

Minnesota has led off three innings with either a double or a walk and hasn't scored any runs. They trail 5-0. 

Highlights: Oregon State Baseball's Brady Kasper, Trent Caraway Go Yard vs. Minnesota

They say hitting is contagious. Well, they're right.

Brady just got a hold of this thing and like that it's 5-0 Beavs.https://t.co/ASRpxBgxUe#GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/wpadra3GAE

— Oregon State Baseball (@BeaverBaseball) February 17, 2024

Scoreless no more! TC goes deep for his second long ball of the year. And he got all of that one.https://t.co/ASRpxBgxUe#GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/vo9Jd9nTsi

— Oregon State Baseball (@BeaverBaseball) February 17, 2024

Bottom Of The Third Inning: Oregon Explodes For 5 Runs Before Gophers Record An Out

Before Minnesota had even recorded an out in the bottom of the third inning, Oregon State had five runs. 

Freshman Trent Caraway his his second career home run, and his second in as many games,  while Mason Guerra drove in Travis Bazzana, who doubled for his second hit of the day. With two on, Brady Kasper hit a home run to cap off a 5-0 scoring run. 

Minnesota Pitcher Tucker Novotny then struck out three straight Beavers to get out of the inning. 

Bottom Of Fourth: Trent Caraway Is Putting On A Show Against Minnesota

Caraway is making the case as the best freshman in the nation. He once again has a double and a home run, just like he did against New Mexico. He led off the half-inning with a double and Travis Bazzana walked. 

Oregon State leads 5-0. 

Top Of The Fourth: Minnesota Can't Score Leadoff Walk

Minnesota has made a point of getting its leadoff hitter on base, but have not been able to score. Three of the four inning, the Gophers had runners on and couldn't' score. 

Top Of Third Inning: Oregon State Gets 1-2-3 Inning

Oregon State pitcher Jacob kmatz had his first clean inning of the day. 

Bottom Of Second Inning: Oregon State Baseball Gets Runner To Third, Can't Score

Gavin Turley stole second and a throwing error put him at third base, but the Gophers got out of the inning. 

Top Of Second Inning: Minnesota Loads Bases, But Oregon State Survives Inning. No Score

Ike Mezzenga hit a leadoff double and Jack Spanier and Brady Counsell walked, but Minnesota was unable to touch-up Oregon State starter Jacob Kmatz for a run. The OSU starter induced a pop-up to escape the jam. 

Bottom Of First Inning: Travis Bazzana Leadoff Single Leads To No Runs

Top prospect Travis Bazzana hit a leadoff single and stole second base, but the Beavers weren't able to get him home. 

Top Of First Inning: Minnesota Baseball Leadoff Double Leads To No Runs

Minnesota second baseman Brady Counsell hits a leadoff double, and Weber Neels walked, but the Gophers failed to score a run off Oregon pitcher Jacob Kmatz.  

First Pitch In Minnesota vs. Oregon State Baseball Is Moments Away

The Beavers and the Gophers go head-to-head in the first game of the Sanderson Ford Classic, with Minnesota batting first. 

Tyce Peterson Ready For Another Big Day For Oregon State Baseball

Oregon State sophomore Tyce Peterson hit two home runs and drove in three runs while going 3-for-4 at the plate against New Mexico. Peterson didn't hit a home run in 2023 in his 33 at-bats last season. 

Minnesota Baseball Roster And Lineup vs. Oregon State

Here is the lineup for the Gophers. 

1. 2B Brady Counsell
2. LF Boston Merila
3. 3B Jake Perry
4. 1B Weber Neels
5. RF Kris Hokenson
6. DH Ike Mezzenga
7. C Sam Hunt
8. CF Brady Jurgella
9. SS Jack Spanier

P Tucker Novotny

Oregon State Baseball Roster And Lineup vs. Minnesota

1. 2B Travis Bazzana
2. 1B Mason Guerra
3. CF Micah McDowell
4. RF Brady Kasper
5. SS Elijah Hainline
6. LF Gavin Turley
7. DH Tyce Peterson
8. C Wilson Weber
9. 3B Trent Caraway

P Jacob Kmatz

How Did Travis Bazzana Of Oregon State Do On Opening Day?

The No. 3 prospect in college baseball looked the part against New Mexico on Feb. 16. 

Bazzana, from Sydney, Australia, had two hits, including a home run against the Lobos. Bazzana is the unanimous No. 3 prospect in the 2024 MLB Draft behind JJ Wetherholt of West Virginia and Nick Kurtz of Wake Forest. 

Oregon State vs. Minnesota Baseball All-Time

The Beavers are 10-3 all-time against Minnesota. Last year, Oregon State beat Minnesota 8-7 in the Sanderson Ford Baseball Classic. 

Who Is The Starting Pitcher For Oregon State Baseball vs. Minnesota?

Jacob Kmatz will start for Oregon State. The junior was 5-4 with a 4.71 ERA a year ago in 72 2/3 innings. He started 14 games overall last year in 30 appearances. 

Who Is The Starting For Minnesota Baseball vs. Oregon State?

Junior Tucker Novotny is starting for the Golden Gophers. He was 4-5 in 14 appearances, all starts, for Minnesota in 2023. He had a 5.03 ERA. 

What Did Minnesota Baseball Do On Opening Day?

The Golden Gophers beat CSU Bakersfield 8-7 in 10 innings as Jake Perry drew a walk with the bases loaded in the 10th to give Minnesota the win.  

What Did Oregon State Baseball Do On Opening Day?

Oregon State Baseball showed why it's in the top 10 of the 2024 college baseball polls but might have made an argument for why the Beavers need to be in the top-5 in the Sanderson Ford Baseball Classic on Feb. 16.

OSU beat New Mexico 15-6 in Surprise, Arizona in the first day of the four-day showcase. 

Pac-12 Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll

The Beavers received eight first-place votes.  

1. Oregon State (8)    95
2. Stanford (2)    85
3. UCLA (1)    82
4. Oregon    74
5. USC    64
6. Arizona State    50
7. Washington    49
8. California    40
9. Arizona    31
10. Utah    20
11. Washington State    15

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2024 Sanderson Ford College Baseball Classic Schedule

All times Eastern

Friday, February 16 

• Game 1 - New Mexico vs Oregon State - 2pm ET 
• Game 2 - Minnesota vs CSU Bakersfield - 7pm ET

Saturday, February 17 

• Game 3 - Minnesota vs Oregon State - 2pm ET 
• Game 4 - CSU Bakersfield vs New Mexico - 7pm ET

Sunday, February 18 

• Game 5 - CSU Bakersfield vs Oregon State - 2pm ET 
• Game 6 - New Mexico vs Minnesota - 7pm ET

Monday, February 19 

• Game 7 - Minnesota vs Oregon State - 2pm ET 
• Game 8 - CSU Bakersfield vs New Mexico - 7pm ET

What College Baseball Tournaments Are Streaming On FloBaseball?

These tournaments will stream on FloBaseball and the FloSports app in February and March:

• 2024 Snowbird Baseball
• 2024 Shriners Children's College Showdown
  • 2024 Kubota College Baseball Series - Weekend 2
  • 2024 Kubota College Baseball Series - Weekend 3
• 2024 Sanderson Ford College Classic
• 2024 Kleberg Bank College Classic

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