Keith Madison Believes Cats Can Beat Tradition Rich Oregon State

Trey Pooser (Vicky Graff Photo)

Former Kentucky coach Keith Madison correctly describes Oregon State as a “baseball tradition rich program” that has high expectations every season.

The Beavers won the 2006, 2007 and 2018 College World Series to become the winningest collegiate baseball program in the Super Regionals era. Oregon State has won 26 conference championships, played in 23 NCAA tournaments and been to the College World Series seven times.

The Beavers are in Lexington this weekend to play No. 2 Kentucky, a team that has never been to the College World Series. The winner of this weekend’s NCAA Tournament super regional will advance to Omaha for the College World Series.

“They are good or they would not be in the super regional,” Madison said.

Oregon State (45-14, 19-10 PAC-12) features second baseman Travis Bazzana, the PAC-12 Player of the Year and a Golden Spikes Award Finalist. He is hitting .415, with 28 home runs and 65 RBI. Bazzana is fifth in the nation in batting average and sixth in home runs. The Beavers are hitting .303 and have 115 home runs.

The Beavers rank seventh nationally in team ERA at 3.98 behind Aiden May and Jacob Kmatz. May leads the team with a 7-0 record and 2.88 ERA. Kmatz is 7-2 with a  3.29 ERA.

“Kentucky has played in the SEC and that prepares Kentucky very well for this,” the former UK coach said. “I don’t think Oregon State has played nearly as tough a schedule as Kentucky. You win with pitching and defense. Kentucky is strong up the middle and one of the best defensive teams in college baseball. I think Grant Smith is the best shortstop in college baseball.

“Kentucky’s pitching started coming around again in the regional. Trey Pooser has been outstanding all year. Mason Moore has had a great year. Now it comes down to the bullpen. Robert Hogan had an outstanding second half of the season. When you play a 56-game schedule in a short period like colleges do, your bullpen arms can get tired. I think some relievers had tired arms but some time off has let them rest.”

Madison likes the way UK’s offense can produce runs in various ways with home runs, walks, stolen bases or two-strike hits.

“I feel these games are going to be like 4-3, 5-4 because the pitching is so competitive. This is going to be a battle with tight, competitive games,” Madison said. “I think our players will show up and so will our fans.