After going 9-1 last year behind No. 1 draft pick David Price, lefthander Mike Minor settled into his first start as the ace of the staff, by going a solid 6 innings, while striking out 6, allowing a run and walking none as Vanderbilt topped Oregon State 8-1 at Packard Stadium. He also picked off two OSU runners.

He certainly seemed ready for the role.

"I had a great fastball and changeup all game," Minor said. "There's no more pressure than last year. I just need to pitch my same game. My pickoff move is no better than last year, but my arm action is, so that must be the difference."

Things certainly got off to a rough start for the two-time defending national champions, as senior Mike Stutes had to try and work around an error in the first. But Vanderbilt shortstop Ryan Flaherty made him pay by knocking in t he first two runs of the ball game.

The error on 3B Lonnie Lechelt was the first of three that OSU would make on the day. Something that coach Pat Casey says the Beavers just can't afford to do with the type of team they have.

"We're real aware that this is a new club and I don't think we coasted at all," Casey said. "We just have to commit to defense. We missed a fly ball, missed a cutoff man. There's a reason Vanderbilt is ranked as one of the best teams in the country, so there was no room for error. Our club isn't an explosive club, so we're going to have to play defense to win games."

Parker Hanks hit a solo home run in the fourth to make it 4-0, a blast that landed well onto the Rio Salados Parkway over the leftfield fence.

Did Vanderbilt have more incentive after the way things ended so poorly last year against Michigan in the Regionals? Perhaps, but Minor said the thought that the 'Dores should have been in the Beavers spot last year helped his team get ready for today.

"Our team is always up for games, but there was a little bit extra today with those guys [Oregon State]," Minor said. "That should have been us last year."

While Vandy won't forget about David Price, Minor's performance on Friday signaled a changing of the guard of sort. And when you combine what he did with the lineup that coach Corbin has put together, things may be set.

"When you look at a guy like at Jonathan [White], he's a four year guy that is ready for that role as a starter," Corbin said. "I hope he plays well enough to stick because that'd help us a lot."

Between Hanks going 2-for-4 with a HR and Jonathan White going 2-for-3 with a walk, those are two utility players who are expected to play a big part now in the Vandy lineup in 2008.

Oregon State's Stutes struggled, lasting only through 4 innings, giving up 7 hits, 4 runs and a walk while striking out 3.

Arizona State faces Miami (Ohio) tonight in game two of the DeMarini Invitational at 7pm Mountain time.