McCray twirls gem, but Vols fall 1-0

McCRAY TWIRLS GEM, BUT VOLS FALL, 1-0, TO NO. 10 OREGON STATE IN RUBBER MATCH

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The University of Tennessee baseball team was unable to take advantage of a sterling performance by senior Stephen McCray, falling 1-0 to No. 10 Oregon State Sunday afternoon at Goss Stadium in Corvallis, Ore. The 6-4 right-hander threw seven terrific innings, allowing just one run on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks in the tough-luck loss.

McCray threw 85 pitches during his time on the mound with 57 going for strikes. He falls to 1-1 on the season after picking up a win in his 2010 debut against Xavier last weekend. Unfortunately for McCray, Oregon State starter Greg Peavey was equally as impressive, twirling a complete-game shutout with nine strikeouts and just one walk while scattering three hits.

“You don’t see many games played that well in February,” UT Head Coach Todd Raleigh said. “The defense and pitching for both sides was fantastic. Sometimes early in the year the pitching is a little ahead of the hitting, but I thought our guys battled hard and hit the ball pretty hard. “Oregon State is a great team though and they don’t give you anything. You have to earn everything. I thought this was a regional-type atmosphere and a regional-type game in terms of the high-level of play.”

The lone tally of the game came in the seventh inning when the Beavers were able to scratch across a run on back-to-back hits by Brandon Hayes and Parker Berberet. With one out in the inning, Hayes punched one the opposite way down the left-field line for a stand-up double. Berberet followed with a single to center that brought Hayes home to score.

The Vols were able to escape further damage, however, as freshman Chris Fritts made a spectacular diving grab near the wall in left. Not only that, but he was able to turn a quick somersault, get back to his feet and get the ball back to Zach Osborne who doubled up the runner at first on the relay throw to end the Beaver threat.

Tennessee will look to return to the win column this Wednesday when it returns to Knoxville for a 4 p.m. showdown with Eastern Kentucky at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.