Preview: No. -- Oregon State at San Diego

SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — The surging Oregon State Beavers will look to secure a series victory when they face the San Diego Toreros in an evening nonconference baseball game Sunday at USD Sports Center.

First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. PDT under clear skies with a game-time temperature near 78 degrees.

Oregon State (12-4) has won four straight and eight of its last nine, including a 7-5 victory over the Toreros to open this series Friday night. San Diego (7-10) has lost five consecutive games and eight of its last nine.

The Beavers will rely on the dominant form of right-hander Dax Whitney. The ace has been nearly untouchable this season, coming off a performance against these same Toreros on Friday where he threw five hitless innings with nine strikeouts. In his last four starts, Whitney has allowed just six hits and two earned runs over 24 1/3 innings, striking out 48 batters.

San Diego will counter with right-hander Diego Gutierrez, who took the loss Friday. Gutierrez allowed five hits and four earned runs over five innings against the Beavers. His recent outings have been inconsistent, following a rough start at California on March 6 where he walked six batters in 3 2/3 innings.

The Beavers’ offense was powered Friday by third baseman Paul Vazquez, who went 2 for 4 with a home run. Reliever Wyatt Queen sealed the win with two scoreless innings.

For San Diego, relievers Nate DeSchryver and Chaz McRoberts provided solid work out of the bullpen in the series opener after Gutierrez’s exit.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Oregon State is projected to win 7-2.

Following Sunday’s finale, Oregon State travels to face Portland on Tuesday. San Diego begins a three-game series against Gonzaga next Friday.