REDDING, Calif.  – The Hustlin' Owls (2-4) were defeated by Simpson University (3-4) and Holy Names University (2-1) on Saturday afternoon in two close games, losing the first against Simpson 2-1 and the nightcap against Holy Names 9-8.
 
Game 1 Simpson University 2 Oregon Tech 1
 
The Hustlin' Owls opened up the first game with a run in the first earned by sophomore Alex Malcolm. However, both teams locked down defensively and no runs were scored for the next seven innings.
 
The drought was finally broken in the bottom of the ninth by the Red Hawks, who scored two consecutive runs to take a 2-1 advantage and end the game.
 
Tech pitcher Josh Overstreet stuck out nine in the loss, while Simpson's Angel Ruiz struck out five.
 
Sam Nakata, Damien Chavez, Christopher Brue, Aaron Torres and Jerry Zurita each scored a single hit for Simpson, with Zurita batting in a single run.
 
For the Owls, McKinnon Bennet made 3-of-4 hits and Malcolm, Josiah Peterson, Jared Norberg and Emmett Covello each notched a single hit.
 
Game 2 Holy Names University 9 Oregon Tech 8
 
Tech led off in the second game as well, with Peterson scoring on an error and Payton Harris batting in another on a single to put the team at a 2-0 advantage early in the game.
 
The Hawks weren't able to retaliate until the bottom of the fourth, when a homer from Joshua Nelson gave them a single run.
 
Holy Names came back strong in the fifth, however, scoring one on a Carlos Cosio dropped fly and two each on doubles from Nelson and Robbie McIntosh, giving them a 6-2 edge.
 
A Bennett homer in the sixth gave the Hustlin' Owls two more runs, but the team still lagged. Micah Jio scored on a throwing error in the seventh, but the Hawks scored one themselves in the eighth.
 
Tech pulled ahead in the top of the ninth with three runs batted in by Bennett and Nevan Watanabe, but Holy Names went into the ninth determined and managed to score on a Jonathan Waite double. Cameron Vollmer batted in the tie-breaking run on a fielder's choice, ending the game.
 
Nelson and Waite each added two hits for the Hawks, with Nelson batting in and scoring three runs himself. McIntosh made one hit but batted in two runs in the game.
 
For the Owls, Harris hit 3-of-5. He was followed by Emmett Covello and Watanabe, who each made two hits. Bennett made a single hit for the team but batted in three runs.
 
Tech pitchers struck out seven between them, while Ricardo Hernandez Jr. of Holy Names struck out nine.
 
The Hustlin' Owls will travel to Rocklin, California next weekend for back-to-back doubleheaders against William Jessup University. Games will take place on Friday at 11:00am and 2:00pm and Saturday at the same times.
 
FOLLOW OREGON TECH ATHLETICS
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube