Oregon State (45-14, 19-10), winners of the Corvallis Regional, will head to Lexington this weekend for the Lexington Super Regional against Kentucky. The winner of the best-of-three series will head to the College World Series in Omaha.
The Beavers are one of two Pac-12 (Oregon) teams left in the NCAA Tournament, as the “Conference of Champions” looks to close its prestigious history with one last title before bowing out.
“After watching (Oregon State), there are a lot of similar characteristics,” Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione said Wednesday. “They have the ability to steal bases, hit home runs and average. “It’s a team full of guys throughout their lineup that know how to work and manage their at-bats, very similar to us.”
The first game of the Super Regional is scheduled for Saturday night at 6:00 pm EST (KeynoteUSAU), and the second game is scheduled for 9:00 pm EST (KeynoteUSAU) Sunday night. The third game (if necessary) would be played on Monday.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Beavers.
Season statistics:
OFFENSE:
- .304 BA (33rd in NCAA, 2nd in Pac-12)
- .565 SLG% (T-6th in NCAA, 1st in Pac-12)
- .426 OBP (8th in NCAA, 1st in Pac-12)
- 608 hits (T-35th in NCAA, 2nd in Pac-12)
- 128 doubles (T-25 in NCAA, 2nd in Pac-12)
- 118 home runs (T-8th in NCAA, 1st in Pac-12)
- 57 stolen bases (T-155 in NCAA, 4 in Pac-12)
PITCHING:
- 3.98 ERA (seventh in NCAA, first in Pac-12)
- 1.31 WHIP (T-14 in NCAA, 1st in Pac-12)
- 9.4 K/9 (T-51st in NCAA, 3rd in Pac-12)
- 3.8 BB/9 (T-33rd in NCAA, 3rd in Pac-12)
- 2.46 K/BB (26th in NCAA, 2nd in Pac-12)
- 6 shutouts (T-5th in NCAA, 1st in Pac-12)
Players should know:
- 2B Travis Bazzana: Bazzana, the projected third pick in KeynoteUSA’s latest 2024 MLB Mock Draft, is one of the best players in all of college baseball. The 2024 Australian and Pac-12 Player of the Year is near the top of every statistical category in the country. He hit for a .415 batting average (fifth in the NCAA) with 28 home runs (T-6 in the NCAA), 86 hits (T-50 in the NCAA), 74 walks (second in the NCAA), a .937 SLG% (2nd in NCAA) and a .575 OB% (2nd in NCAA). Bazzana, who is arguably the most talented player in the Regional, will certainly make his mark at Kentucky Proud Park this weekend.
- RHP Aiden May: The Arizona transfer made an immediate impact in his first season in Corvallis, pitching to an unblemished 7-0 record with a 2.88 ERA (T-28 in the NCAA) in 68 2/3 innings. May struggled with an injury during the first two months of the season, but has started every weekend since early April. He will enter the Super Regional having allowed just six runs in his previous 37 innings pitched (1.46 ERA). The 75th overall prospect in the MLB Draft was named to the All-Pac 12 team.
- BY Gavin Turley: Another big power threat for the Beavers, Turley hit 19 home runs in 2024. He has hit 33 in his first two seasons in college baseball. The sophomore has won five grand slams this season, including one in Oregon State’s regional opener against Tulane. He was just one of five Beavers named All-Pac 12 selections in the league’s final season.
- L.D. Bridger Holmes: The right-handed sidewinder transferred to Oregon State from Feather River Junior College and has taken college baseball by storm. He is one of the best relievers in the country, with a 1.97 ERA in 32 innings pitched this season (25 appearances). Holmes is the No. 325 prospect in the MLB Draft. Also called the All-Pac 12 selection.
- RHP Jacob Kmatz: Kmatz (Kuh-Mats) will likely join May as Oregon State’s starter this weekend in Lexington. In 77 1/3 innings pitched this season, Kmatz has an 8-2 record with a 4.19 ERA. He spent three seasons at Oregon State, but pitched in only one NCAA Tournament game. He allowed four earned runs in 3 1/3 innings against Vanderbilt on June 5, 2022 in the Corvallis Regional.
Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana | Photo via Oregon State Athletics
Mitch Canham is currently in the midst of his fifth season as head coach at Oregon State, where he has a record of 176-75 (70.12 W%).
Canham was the starting catcher for Oregon State’s National Championship teams in 2006 and 2007. He hit .314 during his career, adding 31 doubles, eight triples, 25 home runs and 152 RBIs.
Following the 2007 season, Canham was selected with the 57th overall pick in the 2007 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres. Although he never made it to the major leagues, he worked his way up the ranks of professional baseball as a coach.
He coached the Clinton LumberKings (Prospect League) in 2016 before making the jump to Single-A in 2017 as coach of the Modesto Nuts, an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Canham then jumped to Double-A in 2019, where he coached the Arkansas Travelers (also an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners) before resigning midseason to take the Oregon State job.
He was hired as Oregon State’s 21st coach in program history on June 13, 2019 and received a contract extension in July 2022. He replaced interim coach Pat Bailey, who coached only one season following the legendary coach’s retirement. in chief, three-time national champion Pat. Casey in 2018.
The Beavers have reached the NCAA Tournament every season under Canham and won their Regional in 2022 and 2024. Canham is seeking his first College World Series appearance as a coach and his first since 2007, when he was a player.
Oregon State head coach Mitch Canham returns to the dugout during the NCAA college baseball game at Goss Stadium on Friday, April 26, 2024 in Corvallis, Oregon. Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal / RED KeynoteUSA
Win over RPI’s top 100 teams
Oregon State (45-14) finished 18th in the RPI rankings.
First quarter record: 5-3
Second quarter record: 7-7
Third quarter record: 17-3
Fourth quarter record: 16-1
eleven. Oklahoma State (40-17)
27. UC-Irvine (43-12) x2
31. Arizona (36-21) x2
52. Oregon (37-18) x2
56. Portland (37-19) x3
58. Texas Tech (33-26)
82. Utah (33-22) x2
84. Michigan (32-28)
86. Tulane (35-24)
87. Arizona State (32-26) x4
92. Cal State Northridge (30-24) x4
Victories over NCAA Tournament teams
Oklahoma State (No. 1 seed in Stillwater Regional, eliminated by Florida)
Arizona (No. 1 seed in Tucson Regional, eliminated by Dallas Baptist) x2
UC-Irvine (2nd place in Corvallis Regional, eliminated by Oregon State) x2
Oregon (No. 3 seed at Santa Barbara Regional, advanced to Bryan-College Station Regional) x2
tulane (No. 4 seed in Corvallis Regional, eliminated by UC-Irvine)
History
The 2024 NCAA Tournament marks the 23rd in the history of the Oregon State program. The Beavers have made seven appearances in the College World Series and won National Championships in 2006, 2007 and 2018.
June 24, 2007; Omaha, NE, USA; Oregon State Beavers pitcher Joe Patterson (C) celebrates with catcher Mitch Canham and right fielder Scott Santschi (16) as their teammates storm the field after beating the North Carolina Tar Heels during the NBA Finals. 2007 College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE. The Beavers defeated the Tar Heels for the National Championship 9-3. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-KeynoteUSA Sports | Peter G. Aiken-KeynoteUSA Sports
Oregon State has produced many MLB stars, including 2019 Golden Spikes Award-winning catcher Adley Rutschman, 2018 National Champion Outfielder Steven Kwan, 2014 Golden Spikes Award runner-up outfielder Michael Conforto, Co-Player of the Year Outfielder Pac-10 2005 Jacoby Ellsbury and consecutive national champion second baseman Darwin Barney.
Kentucky and Oregon State have never met.
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