Oregon State beats NSU to set up rematch with LSU

Published 8:30 am Saturday, June 2, 2018

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Oregon State beat Northwestern State 9-3 late Friday night, and both coaches immediately downplayed what they got out of the game.

The Southland Conference tournament champion Demons came up short in their first NCAA tournament appearance in 13 years, but coach Bobby Barbier had trouble feeling too badly about it.

“The result wasn’t what we wanted,” Barbier said.  “But we worry more about how we play. And I thought we played well against a tough opponent in a tough atmosphere.”

The Demons held tough with the national No. 3 seed until it slipped away in the late innings when the Beavers scored four in the sixth and another in the eighth to pull away.

“I thought we played our tails off,” Barbier said. “I’ve discovered something about this team … they will come out and compete again tomorrow.”

The Demons (37-23) will face an elimination game against San Diego State (39-20).

Oregon State?

All the Beavers (45-10-1) get is another shot at LSU, the team that came back to take two straight from them in Omaha last year to eliminate Oregon State from the College World Series when it was to nation’s No. 1 seed.

LSU advanced earlier Friday with a 6-4 win over San Diego. 

Revenge?

“We’re going to take it like any other game,” said OSU second baseman Nick Madrigal, who drove in four runs Friday night while going 3-for-5. “Everything is important this time of year. We’re going to prepare like for any other team.”

“Two real good teams,” Oregon State coach Pat Casey said to tonight’s matchup. “Excted about playing them. I watched them get to the championship game in the SEC tournament.

“They’ve got great players. I think both teams are excited about playing. It’s going to be a great atmosphere.”