Auburn baseball dropped game two 4-3 against Oregon State in the Corvallis Super Regional which forces a winner-takes-all game three on Monday. The winning team will punch their ticket to the College World Series.
Oregon State ace Cooper Hjerpe returned from a brief, unnamed illness in game one. Forgoing his start until game two, the Golden Spikes Award finalist performed as expected. Hjerpe took the win for his team, allowing three runs on three hits. He threw 88 pitches through 22 batters, which could be a key factor in whether he returns on Monday.
Ben Ferrer was Hjerpe’s relief and he picked up where the lefty closed out. He threw just 41 pitches and gave up a pair of hits but shutout the Tigers to maintain the lead.
“This is the opportunity every college baseball player dreams of,” said Brooks Carlson. “If you don't grab it by the throat, you're not supposed to be here.”
On the other side, Auburn starter Joseph Gonzalez struggled through his five innings of work. The sophomore gave up seven hits that accounted for three of the Beaver’s runs. Two of those were solo home runs.
The Auburn bullpen got the opportunity to add to its weekend of contributions. Chase Allsup gave up a walk in the sixth that amounted to the final Beaver run, which brought in Chase Isbell, who was a key piece in the closing third.
“We had a couple of our best guys. They had a couple of their best guys,” said head coach Butch Thompson. “What Isbell did tonight, we won’t know until we’re sitting here talking to you tomorrow. Whether he saved somebody or allowed some people to come back, I don’t think you can answer that question until I sit here tomorrow.”
Isbell replaced Allsup in the sixth and lasted through part of the ninth, shutting out Oregon State and allowing no hits. He lost the strike zone on the third batter, so freshman John Armstrong entered to close after a brief outing Saturday.
The Tigers finished the game with a pair of errors to Oregon State’s zero, but their defense had some clutch plays that kept the score much closer than it could have been. Mike Bello, Kason Howell and Bobby Peirce had a trio of plays in the outfield that kept the game close. Catcher Nate LaRue contributed an out at second and a tag at home that saved multiple potential runs.
“I just want to keep them where they’re at, with the same intensity. Hopefully they have the same mindset that they had last night in a win and the same thing in defeat,” Thompson said. “If we treat them both the same and I get the same effort, then I have no issues with seeing how this game is going to shake out tomorrow.”
The Beaver win forced a third game, which has been set for 6:30 p.m. CST, again airing on ESPN2. Auburn typically goes with Mason Barnett as the game three starting pitcher, but Thompson also indicated that senior Carson Skipper is available.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Callie Stanford, junior in communications, is the sports editor at the Auburn Plainsman. Currently a junior, she has been with The Plainsman since January 2021.
Twitter: @Stanford1Callie
