Austin High grad Eckert peeved Oregon State forced to play regional on the road,

Like everyone associated with the Oregon State baseball program, Austin High’s Travis Eckert is offended that the Beavers have been forced to go on the road to start the NCAA postseason.

OSU, the Pac-12 runner-up, had a compelling argument to be at home for a regional rather than to be shipped off to Dallas Baptist.

Eckert, though, is looking forward to seeing familiar faces, some of whom are surely baffled by his rapid rise on the pitcher’s mound. After spending two years toiling on the junior college level, Eckert is now the No. 3 pitcher for the Beavers, who will open the tournament Friday against Texas. He is in line to start Sunday provided second-seeded OSU is still alive in the field.

Eckert (6-1, 3.87 ERA) is part of an OSU pitching staff that had a 2.88 ERA through the end of the regular season.

“I always knew I had the ability in there,” Eckert said. “I’m just happy it came out. My path is interesting. Three schools in three years. I always knew I could play on a big stage.”

After being named thirdteam all-state as a senior outfielder, Eckert footed off to Temple College as a preferred walk-on and struggled, posting a 6.05 ERA in 38 2/3 innings. He transferred to Clark College in Vancouver, Wash., where he was 10-1 with a 1.20 ERA and caught the attention of OSU head coach Pat Casey.

Texas’ Ben Johnson, a former teammate of Eckert’s with the Austin Wings select team, was surprised to hear Eckert was playing in Washington last year and is even more surprised to see him now excelling in the Pac-12.

“He was OK on our team, wasn’t anything to write home about, decent player,” Johnson said. “And it’s not one of those things where he’s just on the team (at OSU). He’s their third starter and he’s had a great year.”

Pitching matchup: Texas’ Parker French (5-3, 2.33 ERA) will face off against OSU’s Andrew Moore (7-2, 1.73).