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Fans fill the stands as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on May 14, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
WSU pulled off a shocking upset, defeating Oregon State 3-2 in the opener of the Eugene Regional. Washington State has been awesome through Mountain West play where they finished 2nd, the MW tournament which they won, and carried that into their 31st win today.
Despite the rival Ducks hosting, this felt like a home game for the Beavers. Even Oregon State’s chainsaw sound effect echoed through the stadium speakers, which felt a little sacrilegious on Oregon’s home field. WSU entered the regional with the longest odds to advance, listed at 14-1.
Mountain West Pitcher of the Year Nick Lewis got the start for Washington State, while junior left-hander Ethan Kleinschmit (9-2, 3.91 ERA) got the nod for Oregon State. Neither pitcher had appeared in the two previous meetings between the schools this season.
There appeared to be some nerves in the first inning on both sides. Kleinschmit issued a four-pitch walk to leadoff hitter Trevor Smith and hit Matt Priest with a pitch, while Gavin Roy popped up a bunt attempt to first base in the bottom half of the inning.
Washington State was retired quickly in the top of the second, with Kleinschmit dispatching Ollie Obenour and Cam McCloud in short order. In the bottom of the inning, Oregon State used a hard-hit double into the gap by Paul Vazquez and a bloop single by catcher Jacob Galloway to produce the game’s first run. WSU’s relay throw bounced off Vazquez as he slid into home. Lewis limited the damage to just one run.
Kyle Northrop blistered a ball to begin the top of the third, but third baseman Paul Vazquez made an outstanding diving play to record the out.
Lewis flirted with trouble again in the fourth, allowing a hard-hit double off the wall, but escaped with three flyouts. It became a theme throughout the day. The rain was coming down in Eugene, though it was more of a misty drizzle than a steady downpour, something both Northwest clubs should be accustomed to playing through.
Between the third and fourth innings, “Back Home” played over the speakers and some of the WSU players were swaying in the dugout. Whether that sparked the mini-rally or not we’ll never know, but the Cougars managed to put two runners aboard via hit-by-pitches. As Ryan Skjonsby struck out looking on a pitch well outside the zone, Galloway fired an errant throw to third as Max Hartman attempted to steal. Hartman came around to score, allowing WSU to tie the game at 1-1.
Oregon State reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by center fielder Easton Talt. After allowing a leadoff double, Lewis would gladly take limiting the damage to one run. He had thrown just 55 pitches through five innings. The Cougars remained hitless entering the sixth inning despite trailing only 2-1.
That changed when Hartman dropped a bloop single between three converging Beavers fielders, the first of his three hits on the afternoon. A walk and a Matt Priest single later, WSU tied the game. Dustin Robinson battled through a lengthy at-bat before Skjonsby flew out, but the Cougars succeeded in chasing Kleinschmit after 92 pitches. Wyatt Queen entered for Oregon State and stranded both inherited runners. The game remained tied at 2 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Lewis continued to dance around hard contact and deep fly balls all afternoon, something Oregon State players mentioned afterward in the postgame press conference. However, he delivered exactly what Washington State needed: six innings, just two runs allowed, and only 68 pitches thrown. The game remained tied at 2 entering the seventh.
The Cougars made Queen work in the top of the seventh but managed only a walk. Oregon State first baseman Jacob Krieg crushed what appeared to be a home run to left field in the bottom half, but the weather knocked it down and it died at the warning track. Lewis had thrown only 77 pitches through seven innings.
Hartman led off the eighth with a single, followed by another single from Priest. Hartman’s ability to advance from first to third set the table for Robinson with nobody out. Robinson put together his second consecutive lengthy at-bat before sneaking a double inside the first-base bag, giving the Cougars a 3-2 lead and leaving runners on second and third with no outs. Queen’s day was finished, and hard-throwing right-hander Albert Robles entered the game.
The Beavers intentionally put Skjonsby on first to load the bases for Obenour, who struck out swinging for the fourth time. Pinch-hitting freshman Dane Chavez did not fare much better, taking a called third strike down the middle. Northrop then popped out, and the Cougars left the bases loaded, though they still carried a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the inning.
Lewis worked around another Oregon State double in the eighth, sending the 3-2 game into the ninth. After a walk, Roy advanced to second on a wild pitch. Mason Pirello also worked a walk, but WSU could not add any insurance. That meant it was crunch time, and time for Lewis to jog back onto the field and attempt to complete the game in which he started.
Lewis swiftly completed his complete game with two groundouts and a weak flyout to center field in the ninth. The bullpen and dugout emptied onto the field, and a very happy contingent of Cougar fans greeted the players as they exited the field.
Nathan Choate opened his postgame press conference with a confident “Super proud of our program” and noted that while the college baseball world may be surprised by the result, his team was not. Hartman credited the Cougars’ ability to keep passing the baton, whether through walks, hit-by-pitches, or bloop singles. While it took WSU five innings to record its first hit, the Cougars drew five walks and were hit by four pitches, helping drive up Oregon State’s pitch count.
From a bird’s-eye view, this is a massive win for the Washington State baseball program. In its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 16 years, WSU came into hostile territory and took down an old friend, yet future Pac-12 foe, and one of college baseball’s premier brands.
In the short term, however, the Cougars are now just two wins away from advancing to a Super Regional, something they have never accomplished under the current NCAA Tournament format. (WSU has made four College World Series appearances.)
Lewis’ complete game also significantly improves Washington State’s outlook moving forward. The bullpen has often been the team’s biggest question mark, but now the Cougars will have their full complement of relievers available when they face the winner of Oregon and Yale on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Should WSU advance to a fourth game on Monday, it would not be surprising to see Lewis pitch again.
Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, this victory is a major statement for Choate and his program.
The Cougars return to action Saturday at 6 p.m. against the winner of host Oregon and Yale.
Follow along for live coverage @WinOrLosePod on X!
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