PREVIEW: Oregon State hosts Air Force in pivotal series finale

CORVALLIS, Ore. (Interstat) — The Oregon State Beavers (42-11) will host the Air Force Falcons (24-25) in the finale of a three-game series Saturday evening at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. under cloudy skies with temperatures near 60 degrees.

The Beavers enter with the nation’s best record and have already clinched the series after splitting the first two games. Oregon State won Thursday’s opener 7-4 before Air Force bounced back Friday with an 8-5 victory.

Oregon State will send right-hander Ethan Kleinschmit to the mound. Kleinschmit (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 6 K in Thursday’s win) has been steady this season and owns a 5-2 record. In his last five starts, he has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of them, including a complete-game effort against Cal State Fullerton on April 18. The junior has struck out 39 batters in 36.1 innings.

Air Force counters with right-hander Gunner Gilmore. The sophomore has been effective in relief but will make a spot start Saturday. In Thursday’s loss, Gilmore threw 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out two. Over his past four appearances, he has surrendered just one earned run in 4.2 innings, though he was touched for one run without recording an out on April 26 against San Jose State.

The Falcons are batting .278 as a team and are led by outfielder Tripp Garrish, who homered and drove in two runs in Friday’s win. Oregon State boasts a .312 team average and has outscored opponents 392-175 this season.

The Beavers’ offense is powered by third baseman Paul Vazquez, who had two hits and a home run in Thursday’s game. The lineup has produced at least eight runs in 11 of their past 14 games.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-5 Oregon State victory. The Beavers have an 85.5 percent probability of winning according to the ELO-based system.

Oregon State has won six of its last eight series overall. Air Force has dropped four of its last five games.

The series finale marks the end of the regular season for both teams. Oregon State is expected to secure a top-eight national seed for the NCAA tournament, while Air Force hopes to finish above .500 and earn an at-large berth.