Dax Whitney Dominates as Oregon State Takes Frisco Classic Opener
The Frisco Classic opener featured elite pitching, highlighted by a dominant outing from Dax Whitney that drew comparisons to Stephen Strasburg and Aaron Nola.
FRISCO, TX — The Frisco Classic literally never disappoints and provides top notch college baseball. That was the case on Friday for game one of the Frisco Classic that saw Oregon State University take on the University of Houston.
To begin with, the weather was perfect for baseball. It was 78 degrees with the sun out, and to top it off, the pitching was top-notch. It featured Dax Whitney, who is one of the most exciting pitchers in college ball. He is actually the current top ranked 2027 college prospect.
While Whitney didn't quite match his 17 strikeout performance from his previous outing, he was still....dominant.
The 1st was the only inning where Whitney ran into trouble, but he didn't let it rattle him. McClane Helton led off the game with a double and reached third on a wild pitch before Riley Jackson laced a double of his own to drive him home.
Dax struckout the side.
Houston 1, Oregon State 0
He also struckout the side in the second inning.
He struckout two in the third.
He struckout two in the fourth.
Oregon State was able to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 4th.
With two outs in the fourth, Oregon State found a spark when Nyan Hayes was hit by a pitch. Hayes moved to second, allowing Jacob Krieg to drive him in with a clutch single. Paul Vazquez singled to left, and Adam Haight delivered the final blow of the frame with an RBI single down the left-field line.
Houston 1, Oregon State 2
The two runs are all that Oregon State would need.
I don't want to completely ignore the pitching that Houston received from left hander Chris Scinta. He pitched a fine game as well. The two runs that Oregon scored against him were unearned.
The bullpen for Oregon State combined for three scoreless innings but it wasn't without a nail-biting moment in the 9th.
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Noah Scott allowed just one hit over two innings of relief to maintain the lead, but the ninth inning got interesting. Isaac Yeager struck out the first Houston batter before loading the bases (walk, single, walk). Albert Roblez then took over and got an infield fly and a strikeout to notch his third save and give the Beavers their fourth one-run win of the season.
Dax Whitney's final line of the game: 6 IP, one run, 3 H, 2 BB, WP, 11 SO, 90 pitches. He earned the win (his first of the season) and was also named Player of the Game. His top velo was 101 MPH. I saw it once but I know he hit 100 multiple times.
I'm not sure I’ve ever seen a college pitcher pump 99 mph on the gun in person as consistently as Whitney did today.
Asked for a comparison from the long list of opposing arms his teams have faced, Houston’s head coach named two of the most dominant names in recent memory. He named Stephen Strasburg and Aaron Nola.
For the season, Whitney now has 34 strikeouts and six walks in 18 IP.
Oregon State will send Ethan Kleinschmit to the mound for Saturday’s game against Alabama.
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