Oregon State Beavers climb college baseball polls after hot start

The Oregon State baseball team has had a moderate ascent thanks to a scorching start.

After the first week of the season, the Beavers improved in two of the five major college baseball polls, solidifying their place among the top teams in the country.

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Poll had Oregon State at number six, the D1 Baseball Top 25 at number seven, and the Perfect Game Top 25 and Baseball America Top 25 at number nine. There was no updated coaches poll published by USA Today.

The D1Baseball poll is used by Oregonian/OregonLive to determine its rankings.

In their opening game of the season, the Beavers (4-0) dominated, winning four games in four days with a 48-9 total. Even though there were only four games in the lengthy and tiresome season, it would be hard for a team to start better.

OSU’s aggressive and dynamic lineup, formidable pitching staff, and stifling defense all contributed to the team’s internal conviction that it is a serious contender for a championship.

OSU’s pitching staff, which has a lot of talent and potential but little experience, was arguably the biggest unknown going into the season. However, it overwhelmingly passed the early-season test.

Junior Nelson Keljo, freshman Dax Whitney, and community college transfer Ethan Kleinschmit combined to throw 15 scoreless innings in victories over Indiana, Xavier, and UNLV, making the weekend rotation all but unhittable. The three held opponents to a batting average of.165 while allowing just five hits, recording 18 strikeouts, and leading a staff with a 2.12 ERA and 1.21 WHIP.

In their OSU debuts, Whitney and Kleinschmit were very dominant. In a victory over UNLV, Whitney, a 6-foot-5 freshman right-hander, dominated in his maiden collegiate start, striking out eight batters in five scoreless innings. On Tuesday, he was selected the National Pitcher of the Week by Perfect Game. Then, in order to defeat Indiana, sophomore left-hander Kleinschmit pitched six no-hit innings with five strikeouts.

In the four-game season-opening series in Surprise, Arizona, Oregon State threw two shutouts and went 19 innings without allowing a run.

Pitching with a large lead is usually easier, of course, and the Beavers offense gave them plenty of leeway.

The Oregon State lineup smashed seven home runs, seven doubles, and a triple while smashing 51 hits, drawing 31 walks, and spraying the ball all around Surprise Stadium. Shortstop Aiva Arquette (.538, one homer, four RBIs, five runs scored), third baseman Trent Caraway (.471, two doubles, three RBIs, six runs scored), and designated hitter Tyce Peterson (.455, one homer, one triple, four RBIs, seven runs scored) were among the eight OSU starters who left Arizona with batting averages above.300.

Gavin Turley is hitting, and first baseman Jacob Krieg leads the Beavers in home runs (three) and RBIs (nine).364 with seven RBIs and a home run.

However, the Beavers’ recent success will be put to the test this week as they go to Texas to play seven games against elite opponents in 12 days. The run begins Wednesday at 11 a.m. against Houston at Round Rock, Texas, and includes games against No. 2 Virginia, Oklahoma, Auburn, and Auburn.