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Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend June 11, 2006 Rowe gets it done for OSU Commentary By DON HUNT Mail Tribune CORVALLIS — Oregon State first baseman Bill Rowe found himself batting cleanup against arguably the No. 1 college pitcher in the nation Saturday night. The former Ashland High standout didn’t fare too badly. Rowe hit an RBI single that tied the game at 3-all in the third inning and then reached base on an error and scored the winning run in the seventh as the eighth-ranked Beavers (43-14) edged Stanford 4- 3 in the first game of an NCAA Super Regional at sold-out Goss Stadium. The second game of the best-of-three series is set for 7 o’clock tonight. A third game, if necessary, will be played at 4 p.m. Monday. The winner earns a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Rowe went 1-for-4 with a walk against Stanford ace Greg Reynolds, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound right-hander who was the second player taken in last week’s major league draft by the Colorado Rockies. Advertisement "Nothing too earth-shattering, but I felt like I did my job," said Rowe, a senior who transferred to OSU from the University of California at Santa Barbara this season. Rowe usually hits sixth or seventh in the Beavers lineup, but coach Pat Casey stuck him in the No. 4 hole after he went 2-for-4 with six RBIs in OSU’s 12-3 victory over Hawaii in the Corvallis Regional last Sunday. Rowe also went 2-for-3 off Reynolds in a game against Stanford last month. "The guy throws hard but I feel like I can get around on him," Rowe said of Reynolds. Rowe nearly hit a three-run homer off Reynolds in the fourth inning but the ball fell a little short and was hauled in by Stanford left fielder Jim Rapoport. "He threw me an inside fastball," Rowe said. "I got under it a little but when their outfielder (Rapoport) turned and started to run to the fence I thought it had a chance." Rowe led off the seventh inning and got aboard when Stanford first baseman Jason Castro failed to handle his grounder. Tyler Graham followed with a sacrifice bunt and, one out later, Mitch Canham belted a double to center, scoring Rowe with the winning run. If there was an MVP for the Beavers Saturday, it was senior pitcher Dallas Buck, who out-dueled the more heralded Reynolds to notch his 12th victory in 14 decisions. Buck scattered eight hits over eight innings before giving way to Kevin Gunderson, who worked the ninth for his 17th save. Buck, who was drafted in the third round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, has lost a couple miles per hour off the 90-plus mph fastballs he was firing a year ago. But the Newberg High graduate kept the Cardinal off balance with his breaking balls and got several key outs when he needed it. "That’s a guy going out there on fumes and he pitched a great game against a hot team," said Casey, noting that Stanford averaged 18 hits and 12 runs in three regional games in Austin, Texas, last week. "I’m not sure people know how great of a game he pitched." While Buck was the catalyst, OSU’s air-tight defense was equally significant in the win. Second baseman Chris Kunda, who was the Pac-10 defensive player of the year, started the game with a spectacular play to throw out Stanford lead-off hitter Ryan Seawell and the Beavers went the rest of the way without making an error. "I told Kunda that that play was going to be on (ESPN’s) SportsCenter," Rowe said. "That was big time, but I’ve grown to expect plays like that from him." Added Casey: "When you’re going against a guy (Reynolds) who is taken No. 2 in the draft, you have to execute and make plays. And we did." Stanford, on the other hand, had three errors that made two of the runs off Reynolds unearned. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail Rowe gets it done for OSU ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Texas Electric Choice Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Advertisement s