CORVALLIS — The Oregon State Beavers will enjoy a 6-foot-3-sized boost Sunday night.
Cooper Hjerpe has been cleared to start against the Auburn Tigers in Game 2 of the Corvallis Super Regional, giving the Beavers a decisive edge as they fight to stave off elimination in the best-of-three series.
The left-hander was a late scratch in Saturday’s opener because of an undisclosed illness, leaving the Beavers without their ace starting pitcher in the tone-setting Game 1. Oregon State went on to lose 7-5.
But 24 hours later, Hjerpe had recovered enough to return, and he will make his 17th start of the season when the teams play at 7 p.m. at Goss Stadium.
Hjerpe is perhaps the best pitcher in college baseball, boasting a 10-2 record, 2.40 ERA and 155 strikeouts — most in the nation and five shy of breaking the Beavers’ single-season record. He is a finalist for both the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy, honors that are annually given to college baseball’s best player.
His return not only brings supreme talent to the mound against an offense that has scored 58 runs in its last four games, but also an emotional boost to an Oregon State team that needs two wins in two days to earn a berth to the College World Series.
— Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman | Subscribe to The Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
