COLLEGE BASKETBALL

AD’s letter backs OSU’s Robinson — In an apparent show of support for his beleaguered men’s basketball coach, Oregon State athletic director Bob De Carolis on Friday sent a letter to media commenting on Craig Robinson. The 51-year-old Robinson recently concluded his sixth season at OSU, where his teams have an overall record of 93-104 (39-69 in Pac-12 play). The Beavers finished this season 16-16, capped by a disappointing loss to Radford in the opening round of the College Basketball Invitational before an announced crowd of just 1,351 at Gill Coliseum.

The following is an excerpt from the De Carolis letter: “Many of you have recently sent your thoughts to me about the OSU men’s basketball program. No one is more disappointed in our inability to reach our goals than head coach Craig Robinson and myself. “Coach Robinson and I have met multiple times in the past two weeks, and he has presented me with a plan that will move the Oregon State men’s basketball program forward to achieve the goals that this university supports. Our goals in every sport are to win a conference title; to play in NCAA postseason events; to compete with character and integrity; and to help guide our student-athletes to graduate and succeed in life. “I’m looking forward to watching Coach Robinson continue to build our program. He is a man of great character and someone who represents Oregon State University with integrity. I ask for your continued support of Beaver basketball.” Robinson’s contract with Oregon State runs through the 2016-17 season.

BASEBALL

Wetzler, Davis dominate for Beavers — Ben Wetzler was dominant, holding Arizona to three hits in 7 1⁄3 innings in an 11-2 Oregon State win over the Wildcats in the series opener Friday night. The Beavers tallied three triples, one shy of tying the school’s single-game record, and OSU (20-5 overall, 5-2 Pac-12) gave Wetzler (5-0) a 2-0 lead before the lefty threw a pitch. Dylan Davis led the Beavers with five runs driven in as the junior had a 4 for 6 night with two doubles. Jeff Hendrix also had four hits while Michael Conforto had three in the victory. Wetzler now has 29 career victories, which is the nation’s active leader and one shy of tying Ken Noble for most in OSU history. The lefty struck out six and has a 0.47 earned run average in 38 innings this season. Opponents have just 12 hits off him and he has walked 10, giving him a WHIP of 0.66. Wetzler has won 15 consecutive games dating back to last season and the Beavers are 20-1 when he starts during that stretch. Arizona fell to 11-17 and 1-6.

11th inning hit gives Cardinal sweep over Ducks — Stanford’s Tommy Edman hit a two-out, walk-off sacrifice fly in the 11th to score Zach Hoffpauir and give the Cardinal a 2-1 win in over Oregon in the second half of a Friday doubleheader at Stanford. The Cardinal won the first game 6-3. The Ducks (18-8 overall, 5-3 Pac-12) scored their lone run in the fifth on a Mark Karaviotis single to score Kyle Karlick and tie the game at 1. Oregon starter Matt Krook went seven innings and allowed one run on two hits, and Darrell Hunter (2-1) took the loss. John Hochstatter got the win in relief for the Cardinal (10-10, 3-2). In the first game, the Cardinal scored three runs in the first and never trailed after that. Tommy Thorpe (3-3) took the loss, giving up five runs on eight hits in 3 2⁄3 innings. Mitchell Tolman was 3 for 4 with two RBIs for Oregon.

— Bulletin staff report