Oregon State Loses To Auburn, Denied College World Series Return

CORVALLIS, OR — The dream of Omaha died Monday night, calling out of Goss Stadium attached to Sonny DiChiara's home run giving Auburn the lead over Oregon State. the Beavers never caught up and lost the series 2-1. Auburn advances to the College World Series and the Beavers wait 'till next year.

Justin Boyd provided all the heroics that the Beavers had, going 3 for 5. He tripled in the third and scored on Jacob Melton's groundout. He then hit a two-run home run in the seventh, bringing Oregon State to within one but that was all they got.

The Beavers had been hoping to make their eighth appearance in the World Series, which they have won three times.

Auburn, who had scored 57 runs in its four games leading up to the series with the Beavers, proved just too much for the Beavers. Their first baseman, DiChiara, hit his 22nd home run of the season. It was also his second homer for him in the series.

It was a big turnaround from Sunday when the Beavers received more than enough from Melton and and Travis Bazzana, who both hit home runs. Pitcher Connor Hjerpe, who returned from a skipped start Saturday because of an unidentified illness, did his part, striking out six over 5 2/3 innings.

Hjerpe, who also have up three runs on three hits and two walks, ran his record to 11-2. He gave up the mound to Ben Ferrer, who struck out three, walked none, and gave up no runs and no hits on the way to his third save of the season.

It was a must-win game for the Beavers who lost the series opener to Auburn on Saturday, 7-5.