Oregon State straddles a career game for Kyle Dernedde in a season-saving win over McNeese State at Fort Worth Regional

The Oregon State Beavers entered the weekend on life support.

Kyle Dernedde made sure they still had a pulse.

The unannounced freshman had the best game of his young career to keep the Beavers season alive, beating them to a 10-5 victory over McNeese State in the NCAA baseball tournament at Lupton Stadium.

Making only his sixth career start in a make or die game, Dernedde was not disheartened yet, pummeling a pair of base-laden doubles en route to a career-high six RBIs as the Beavers, second seed, avoided elimination in Fort Worth, Texas.

The six RBIs tied the OSU school record for a playoff game, matching Bill Rowe’s performance against Hawaii 15 years ago.

“I grew up as an Oregon state baseball fan and saw teams before us go by… and come into the first game, fight and do amazing things,” said Dernedde, a native. by Tualatin. “So for me it’s pretty special to be a part of it now. It’s hard to understand, but it’s exciting and we still have a long way to go.

The win allows the Beavers (35-23) to advance to Sunday’s Losers Round, where they face the loser of a Friday night game between the No.1 seed TCU and the No.3 seed. Dallas Baptist. The Beavers will need to win that game and then another Sunday night to force a win-win final on Monday afternoon.

And they can thank Dernedde for the opportunity. The 5-foot-8 second baseman has only appeared in 11 games and has taken 22 at sticks this season, but he became a savior late in the season.

He was unexpectedly thrown into the starting lineup for the Beavers’ regular season finals at Stanford and came in 2 for 3 with two walks and two runs scored. The clutch performance got him a playoff start and, after an opening 0 for 3 on Friday, Dernedde rewarded the faith of coach Mitch Canham.

Dernedde went 2 for 3 and produced the two biggest swings of the season. In the fourth inning, when the game was tied 2-2, he smashed a three-run double to left center fielder with two strikeouts, giving the Beavers’ offense a jolt. And then, as the Beavers clung to a 7-5 lead in the eighth, Dernedde opened the game, tearing up a three-point brace in the left corner of the field. Two swings, two doubles, six RBIs.

Dernedde said he believes it is the first time in his life that he has finished with a six-RBI game.

That it happened at such an important time after spending most of the season could come as a shock to OSU fans. But the people inside the program didn’t seem at all surprised. Canham said Dernedde has quietly impressed teammates and coaches with his work ethic since the fall, when he regularly pounded OSU pitchers in fall ball games and practice. And Ryan Ober, who started most of the season on second base, said few, if any, Beavers work harder – more consistently – than the rookie does behind the scenes.

“It’s just consistent with his work ethic,” Ober said. “Some guys will come and take extra ground balls here and there, but Kyle is there everyday to take extra stuff, just waiting for his name to be called. He’s a great guy and just very consistent. It’s the best word I can use. He stayed the course and he believed in himself, and that pays off for him and really helps our team.

OSU players could deserve a little assist for the moment from Dernedde. When his name appeared in the middle of the Stanford series, they lobbied the coaches to play.

“The guys love him and respect him,” Canham said. “And when they start chanting his name and wanting it on the lineup every day, it would be silly not to listen.”

But while it perhaps seemed silly to buy shares in the Beavers’ chances of surviving the Regional after dropping their first game – forcing them to win four games in three days – they refuse to turn around.

In addition to Dernedde’s memorable performances, Oregon State has received solid pitching, especially from its reliever box, and contributions from players up and down the roster to keep the season alive.

Ober (2 for 5, two runs batted in, two runs scored) and Garett Forrester (2 for 3, two runs scored, one run batted in) continued their strong regional play, combining four hits, four runs and three runs batted in, and seven different Beavers collected at least one hit against fourth seed McNeese State (32-30).

Starter Cooper Hjerpe was strong in his playoff debut, striking off nine runs and allowing four runs in 4 1/3 innings. And the OSU reliever box was even better, as three relievers combined to allow just one run and two hits over the last 4 2/3 innings. Chase Watkins took the win, allowing a run and striking out three catches in three innings.

It was enough to keep the beavers alive for at least another day, although they planned to stay much longer than that.

“We don’t just want to play tomorrow,” Canham said. “We want to play the next day and the next weekend and the weekend after as well. I think that’s the motivation when you lose the first game. Your bags are packed and your job is to prevent anyone from forcing you onto that plane.

– Joe Freeman | [email protected] | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman | Subscribe to The Oregonian / OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and the best stories.