Roblez’s Final Strike Seals 3-1 Win as Oregon State Sweeps Mercer

Corvallis, Ore. – Moments after Albert Roblez snapped off the strikeout that slammed the door on Mercer, the Oregon State reliever thrust both arms overhead, the crack of the mitt still echoing around Goss Stadium. The celebration punctuated a 3-1 victory Sunday afternoon that capped the Beavers’ seventh straight win and a weekend sweep of the Bears.

No. 16 Oregon State (21-5) needed every bit of its 17-strikeout pitching performance to subdue a Mercer club that refused to fold. After exchanging single runs in the first and third innings, the teams settled into a tense 1-1 deadlock that lasted until the bottom of the seventh. That’s when the Beavers manufactured the decisive two-run burst without the benefit of a base hit: Josh Procter’s sacrifice fly to right plated Easton Talt, and Adam Haight dashed home on a wild pitch for his second run of the day.

Isaac Yeager, who entered in the sixth, earned the win by fanning six Bears in 2.1 innings and improving to 4-1 on the year. Long Beach State transfer Roblez polished off the ninth for his ninth save, striking out the final batter he faced to strand a Mercer runner and ignite the dugout celebration.

Oregon State’s offense finished with eight hits and took advantage of two Mercer errors, the most costly coming in the opening frame when Devyn McEachron’s miscue allowed Haight to score from second. Beaver hurlers issued only three walks and hit one batter while piling up the 17 punchouts, five of the final six outs coming via strike.

The Beavers remain perfect at home (7-0) and return to Goss Stadium on Tuesday night to host Washington. First pitch is set for 5:35 p.m. PT and will be carried on Portland’s CW and the Beaver Sports Network.