CORVALLIS, Ore. (Interstat) — The Oregon State Beavers capitalized on a costly Xavier error to ignite a four-run third inning and never looked back, defeating the Xavier Musketeers 7-2 in nonconference baseball Saturday evening at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field.

The victory improved Oregon State’s record to 9-4, while Xavier fell to 5-9. The game was the second of a three-game weekend series, with the Beavers having also won the opener 4-2 on Friday.

Xavier struck first, pushing across two runs in the top of the second inning against Oregon State starter Ethan Kleinschmit. After loading the bases with two outs, Musketeers shortstop Eddie Peters delivered a two-run single to right field, scoring Connor Morton and Sam Crisp.

The lead was short-lived. The decisive bottom of the third inning began with a single by Trent Inge and a walk to Brady Haight. Jacob Galloway then singled to right, driving in Inge to cut the deficit to 2-1. With runners at the corners, Josh Proctor doubled to right-center, scoring both Haight and Galloway to give Oregon State a 3-2 advantage. The play was compounded by a throwing error from Xavier second baseman Luke Canterberry, which allowed Proctor to advance to third base.

The inning continued to unravel for Xavier starter Jack Nobe. Proctor then scored on a fielder’s choice and a subsequent throwing error by Peters at shortstop, bringing the inning’s total to four runs, only two of which were earned, and giving the Beavers a 4-2 lead they would not relinquish.

Oregon State added insurance runs late. Jacob Krieg launched a solo home run to left field in the sixth inning to make it 5-2. In the eighth, Paul Vazquez doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored along with Inge on Galloway’s two-run single up the middle to provide the final margin.

Kleinschmit earned the win for Oregon State, bouncing back from a rough outing the previous weekend. He allowed two earned runs on four hits over five innings, striking out three. Relievers Noah Scott and Isaac Yeager combined for four scoreless innings of relief, allowing just three hits and striking out four.

Nobe took the loss for Xavier, charged with four runs, two earned, on no hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out four. Michael Murphy allowed two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

Galloway led the Beavers’ nine-hit attack, going 2 for 2 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Vazquez added two hits, including a double. Peters had two of Xavier’s seven hits and both of its RBIs.

The most critical sequence of the game was the bottom of the third inning, where Oregon State transformed a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead. The frame was fueled by timely hitting from Galloway and Proctor and critically extended by Xavier’s defensive miscues, which allowed two unearned runs to score and shifted all momentum permanently to the home side.

The teams conclude their three-game series Sunday afternoon.