Breaking down the Corvallis regional: Who will the Beavers face? (2024)

It has been a frustrating season at times for Oregon State, however the Beavers still hold a 42-14 record and will be making their seventh straight NCAA Tournament Appearance, hosting in five of those seven. Nine of Oregon State's 14 losses this season have come by a run. This team however, is loaded offensively. It all starts with second baseman and projected number one overall draft pick Travis Bazzana. The Australian is batting .418 on the year with a school record 26 home runs, holding a slugging percentage of .939. It's not just Bazzana for an offense that averages 8.75 runs per game. Oregon State has hit a program record 112 long balls this season, as Gavin Turley (18) and Mason Guerra and Elijah Hainline (10), join Bazzana in double digits. Dallas Macias, Micah McDowell, Wilson Weber, Brady Kasper and Jacob Krieg have all been stellar offensively for the Beavers this season and the OSU lineup is legitimately nine deep. The return of third baseman Trent Caraway would give this team an even bigger boost on offense. Oregon State is giving up 4.66 runs per game, although with 45 unearned runs the team ERA is sitting at under four. Ace Aiden May has been fantastic this year with a 6-0 record and a 2.71 ERA, while Saturday and Sunday starters Jacob Kmatz and Eric Segura have been stellar. The OSU bullpen is led by sixth year senior Joey Mundt (2-0, 1.59) and closer Bridger Holmers (12 saves, 2.17). This team is one of the most talented in the country and if they can put it all together they can beat any team in the nation.

One of the top teams on the West Coast this seaosn, UC Irvine has made two College World Series in the last 20 years and are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021. The Anteaters have been fantastic this season and hold a 43-12 record that includes a series win over #14 overall seed UC Santa Barbara. UC Irvine comes into the Corvallis regional averaging just over 9 runs a game with outfielder Myles Smith's .405 average and eight home runs leading the way. First baseman Anthony Martinez has done nothing but produce this season, currently sitting at an .324 average with 17 doubles, nine home runs and 70 RBI. Leading the team in home runs with 10 is catcher Thomas McCaffery. The Anteaters are allowing 5.4 runs this year, however starter Nick Pinto has been fantastic. Pinto holds a 9-2 record with a 3.44 ERA and has struck out 90 batters on the season. A strong bullpen led by Ricky Ojeda and closer Ricky Tibbets help as well. The last time UC Irvine was in the Corvallis regional the Anteaters shocked an Oregon State team led by Michael Conforto to send the Beavers home, and would eventually find themselves in the College World Series. 10 years later, they will look to do the same.

Nicholls is back in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season as they have now won the Southland conference in back-to-back seasons. Third year skipper Mike Silva's club dropped their first two games in the Tuscaloosa regional last season and will be looking for a longer stay in the Corvallis regional. The Colonels have won seven of their last eight games, although they have struggled on the road this season (12-11). The Colonels are led by first baseman and Southland Conference Player of the Year Edgar Alvarez. Alvarez is slugging .411 on the season and his hit 12 home runs and 63 RBIs. He has 34 extra base hits on the season and is the Catalyst for the Nicholls offense. Other key players on offense for Nicholls include shortstop Parker Coddou, outfielder Basiel Williams and infielder Drake Anderson. The Colonels are averaging 8.31 runs per game and have a team batting average of .305. The pitching staff gives up 5.6 runs per game and have two consistent starters, Jacob Mayers (5-1, 4.28) and Michael Quevado (5-0, 5.01). Mayers in particular has some nasty stuff, striking out 105 in just 69 and 1/3 innings. Nicholls has two relievers who will both see extensive action as Devin Desandro and Nico Saltformaggio both have seen over 60 innings in relief. Nicholls will be looking to make some noise in the Corvallis regional and have the talent to do so.

The Green Wave come in to the Corvallis regional hot, winners of nine of their last 10 games including a series sweep over #1 seed East Carolina and four straight to win the AAC Tournament. The NCAA Tournament appearance is the second in as many years for second year coach Jay Uhlman, as like Oregon State Tulane was in the Baton Rouge regional last year. Tulane is averaging 7.4 runs per game offensively and have slugged 90 home runs on the season, with junior outfielder Jackson Linn's 16 leading the way. Linn is one of five players to hit double digits this year for Tulane as outfielder Teo Banks (14), infielder Gavin Schulz and catcher Colin Tuft (11), as well as infielder Brady Marget (10) have eclipsed 10. Marget leads the way for Tulane with a .340 batting average as well as 57 RBI. On the pitching side of things, the Green Wave are giving up 5.83 runs per game with Chandler Welch the leader of the staff. Welch is holding a 7-3 record with a 4.24 ERA, striking out 87 batters in 85 innings. Luc Fladda has been a consistent weekend starter for Tulane and has a 4-3 record with a 5.28 ERA. Out of the bullpen for the Green Wave the go-to guys are Henry Shuffler, Carter Benbrook and Jacob Moore. This team is hot at the right time and will be a tough challenge for Oregon State to open the regional.