TEMPE, Ariz. – Five different Beavers had one hit apiece, but the seventh-ranked Oregon State baseball team dropped a 8-1 decision to No. 3 Vanderbilt Friday afternoon in the opening game of the DeMarini Invitational at Packard Stadium. The game marked the 2008 season-opener for the two-time defending national champions.

“Obviously, we didn’t start off as well as we would have liked,” head coach said. “Vanderbilt is a very good team that deserves that No. 3 ranking. We will have to come back tomorrow against a strong Miami club.”

, , , and all singled for the Beavers, who dropped to 0-1 this season. The Commodores, meanwhile, posted 11 hits off four Oregon State pitchers.

Oregon State managed its only run of the game in the sixth. reached to start the inning on a bloop single to right, and moved to third after two consecutive successful bunts by and . Ammon scored the team’s first run of the season when the next batter, , grounded into a double play.

started for the Beavers and went four innings, striking out three. He was touched for four runs and seven hits before being replaced by to start the fifth inning.

Robles impressed in his first career outing, going 4 2/3 innings, allowing three hits while striking out five. At one stretch, through the fifth and sixth innings, he struck out three of five batters he faced.

and closed out the game for the Beavers, who dropped to 9-5 in season-openers under head coach .

Vanderbilt opened the game’s scoring in the first when Ryan Flaherty singled home two runs. The Commodores added a run in the second when Jonathan White singled, then took a 4-0 lead in the fourth when Parker Hanks homered to left off Stutes.

The game marked the season opener for the Beavers and Commodores.

Right-hander goes for Oregon State Saturday night when the Beavers take on Miami (Ohio). The RedHawks are scheduled to throw righty Chris Stewart.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT. Fans can catch the game live on the Beaver Sports Network. Note that fans in Corvallis can catch the game live on KEJO 1240-AM, but the game will be joined in progress at the conclusion of the Oregon State men’s basketball game from USC.

Oregon State Athletics is proud to participate in .

OSU Notes: The game marked the first starts in the OSU careers of senior and freshman ... Robertson, who transferred from Concordia prior to the season, started in right while Nash saw time as the designated hitter ... For , it was also his first career appearance ... , who played for the Beavers from 2005-07 and was a fourth-round selection of the Chicago Cubs in 2007, spent a portion of the game on radio with play-by-play broadcaster Ron Callan.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Hank Hager at (541) 737-7472.