Oregon State Beavers vs. Cal Bears: Preview, live updates, how to watch opener of Pac-12 baseball series

The host the Friday night in the opener of a three-game Pac-12 baseball series at Goss Stadium. (Read a ) After hot starts to the season, the teams enter the weekend desperate for a victory. The Beavers and Bears have slumped since the start of Pac-12 play, dropping their first two conference series to plummet into a tie for last place.

It’s a rare scenario for Oregon State, which has not lost its first three conference series since 1999, when it opened 1-8 against USC, Washington State and Arizona State. Here are details about tonight’s game: 5:35 p. m.

, Friday, March 24 Goss Stadium, Corvallis The game will be not be broadcast on television. The game will be streamed live by Oregon State. Visit and click on the baseball schedule for a direct link to the game.

Subscribers to the Pac-12 Network can also watch on the Pac-12 Now app. All games air on the Beaver Sports Network. Pregame starts 30 minutes before the first pitch.

Affiliates include KEJO 93. 7-FM & 1240-AM (Corvallis), KKNX 1051. -FM & 840-AM (Eugene), KCFM 104.

1-FM & 1250-AM & 104. 1-FM (Florence), KLAD 104. 3-FM & 960-AM (Klamath Falls), KCFM 103.

1-FM (Mapleton), KTMT 96. 1-FM & 580-AM (Medford), KCMX 880-AM (Medford), KCMX 99. 5-FM (Phoenix), KEX 1190-AM (Portland), KSKR 1490-AM (Roseburg) and KBZY 1490-AM (Salem).

OSU RHP Trent Sellers (2-2, 3. 18) vs. Cal RHP Christian Becerra (0-0, 4.

50) Sellers is making his sixth start of the season. The 6-foot-2 right-hander allowed five runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings in his last start, a 9-8 loss at Stanford, after which his ERA rose from 1. 56 to 3.

18. Sellers leads the Pac-12 in strikeouts with 39. .

. . The Beavers ended a three-game losing streak with an 8-6 midweek win over the Portland Pilots Tuesday night.

But they enter this series in a rut, having lost six of the last eight games, including their first two conference series. Oregon State is four-games-under . 500 in Pac-12 play for the first time since the 2010 season.

. . .

Second baseman Travis Bazzana went 3 for 4 with three runs and the go-ahead double in the win over the Pilots. He has hits in three of his last four games and enters the series batting . 351 with 20 runs scored and 15 RBIs, while leading the Pac-12 in doubles (10).

. . .

The Beavers’ offense, which ranked among the Pac-12 leaders in a host of statistical categories early in the season, is down to eighth in batting average (. 272), fifth in hits (192) and fourth in runs scored (154) heading into the weekend. .

. . Despite a tough series against Stanford — during which it allowed 12 earned runs over three games — OSU’s bullpen remains strong, boasting a 9-1 record, 3.

33 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 92 innings this season. . .

. First baseman Garret Forrester leads the Pac-12 in walks (20) and needs four more to move into second place on the Beavers’ all-time walk list. He has 117 in his career, three shy of Ken Bowen, Danny Hayes and Michael Conforto, who are tied for second with 120.

. . .

Cal has lost five of its last six games and is 3-7 in March. . .

. Becerra is making his ninth appearance of the season, but just the second start of his career. The 6-1 sophomore right-hander made his first career start against USC last Friday, allowing one hit and recording four strikeouts, in three scoreless innings.

. . .

The Beavers have won eight of the last 10 meetings against Cal, including a last season in the inaugural Pac-12 baseball tournament. — | | 503-294-5183 | | Subscribe to The Oregonian/OregonLive and for the latest news and top stories. .