Beavers drop Huskies, 5-3.

Byline: The Register-Guard

CORVALLIS - Shea McFeely and Kevin Gunderson provided a 1-2 punch as fifth-ranked Oregon State beat Washington 5-3 Saturday to tie up its Pac-10 baseball series at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field.

McFeely had a home run among his three hits and scored the winning run in the seventh, while reliever Gunderson earned his 15th save of the season to break his own single-season record set last year.

The Beavers (33-11 overall, 10-4 Pac-10) increased their lead in the conference race to two games over idle Southern California and 2 1/2 games over Washington (31-18, 9-8), Arizona State and UCLA.

Oregon State improved to 20-3 at home this season in front of the second consecutive sellout crowd of 2,327.

"It was a battle today," Gunderson said. "They're a great club, and we haven't been doing some things we normally do offensively as far as driving guys in from third base and executing, but our guys battled and scored the runs we needed to."

Gunderson recorded the final six outs for the 32nd save of his career. Gunderson sits in second place on the Pac-10's all-time list behind Jack Krawczyk (49 for USC from 1995-98).

Jonah Nickerson had his string of victories in six straight starts come to an end as reliever Eddie Kunz (4-1) was credited with the win after getting the final two outs in the top of the seventh inning.

Nickerson went 6 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out six.

Lanz earns Beavers

gymnastics MVP 

CORVALLIS - Freshman Jami Lanz earned Oregon State's Most Valuable Gymnast Award for the 2006 season when the Beavers held their annual banquet Saturday morning.

Lanz, a Churchill High School graduate, earned Pac-10 co-Freshman of the Year and all-conference honors in the all-around.

Chrissy Lamun received the Joy Selig Award that annually goes to the gymnast who most distinguishes herself both academically and athletically and exemplifies courage and leadership, both on and off the competitive floor.

Lanz shared the Newcomer of the Year Award with freshman Tasha Smith, who won the Pac-10 title on vault and floor exercise and earned all-America status on vault.

In an award voted on by the gymnasts, sophomore Yuki Lamb received the Most Inspirational Award.

Freshman Kera Bolen earned the Coaches Award, which honors the gymnast who, through discipline and hard work, demonstrates the greatest improvement during the season.

Sophomore Keegan Fitzgerald earned the Outstanding Scholar Award for the second season in a row.

Mehl, Hirko help Lane

to doubleheader sweep

Jack Mehl drove in two runs in the bottom of the 12th inning in the opener, and Johnny Hirko won his third straight league game in the second game as Lane Community College swept a NWAACC doubleheader from visiting Linn-Benton on Saturday, winning 6-5 and 3-1.

Mehl had a two-run homer and drove in four runs in the first game. Scott Jacobson hit a homer and pitched seven-plus innings for Lane (20-15 overall, 14-9 league).

Chargers come back

to beat Portland

PORTLAND - Larry Morinia scored 32 points and J.R. Patrick added 26 as the Eugene Chargers beat the Portland Chinook, 125-115, Saturday night.

The Chargers (4-3) trailed 54-47 at halftime, but took command in the fourth quarter to post their fourth straight IBL victory.

Bo Colas added 18 points and Perry Smith-Harris 15.