By HD.The win pushed the Beavers to a 30-8 record, putting them at the 30-win plateau for the second consecutive season and 11th time in head coach Pat Casey's 17 seasons in Corvallis. OSU also extended its win streak over the Pilots to 11 games.
"Credit James and Ben; they threw very well today," Casey said. "James set the tone early and Ben carried it throughout the end of the game. Offensively, we did what we needed to do to get the win."
Neither team was able to do much through three innings, but the Beavers broke the scoreless stalemate with four runs on six singles in top half of the top half of the fourth. Danny Hayes, Kavin Keyes, Parker Berberet and Ryan Dunn all drove in runs with singles off Portland starter Owen Jones.
Those four runs were all Nygren needed as the right-hander worked 5 1/3 innings to improve to 7-1, tying Sam Gaviglio for the team lead in wins. The senior tied a career-high with eight strikeouts and scattered just three hits while walking none.
Wetzler came in and worked the final 3 2/3 innings, striking out five while allowing an unearned run for his first career save. He struck out five and allowed two hits.
Jones took the loss for Portland after allowing all four runs in the fourth. The right-hander dropped to 3-5 this season after walking two and striking out seven.
The Beavers added two runs in the eighth on a Jared Norris double and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Keyes to conclude the win.
Norris led the Beavers with two hits. He also walked twice.
Kramer Scott tallied two of Portland's five hits. Colin Feldtman, who pinch hit in the ninth, singled home the Pilots' lone run.
The third-ranked Beavers now set their sights on No. 24 UCLA this weekend as the clubs open a three-game series in Los Angeles Friday night starting at 6 p.m. PT.
