LEWISTON, Idaho. - Oregon Tech (5-7) battled hard in each game, but ultimately dropped both games today to #24 L-C State (9-1), 1-3 and 3-4. Tech was highlighted by strong outings on the mound by
Patrick Arman and
Jesse Dunham (pictured) who combined for 16 of the 16 ⅓ innings the Owls played on defense. In game 2, OIT led 3-2 heading to the bottom of the 9th, but L-C St. grabbed two runs that won them their 9th game of the season.
"Today was a tough day, we certainly play to win and we did that very well at times today," said head coach
Jacob Garsez. "Thought our pitching staff continued to do a good job keeping our opponents hitters' off balance. We swung the bats really well at times in game two and just need to continue inching forward... as a team we are very close to defining our identity as a program that is centered around competing one pitch at a time. We like where we are headed and are eager to get our guys back out there tomorrow to compete."
Game One: #24 Lewis-Clark State 3 Oregon Tech 1
Both sides were shut down in the first two innings with solid pitching from Dunham, and LC-St's starter Tailonn Thomason.
LC-St would strike first in the bottom of the 3rd off of an RBI by Jack Johnson.
Tech would respond though, knotting the game at 1 in the top of the 5th, off of
Michael Tarakhchyan RBI double.
This would be the last time the game would be tied however, as LC-St grabbed the lead back in the bottom of the 5th. An RBI single from Dillon Plew would prove to be the go-ahead score for the hosts.
The hosts would add one run of insurance in the bottom of the 8th, plating a run off of an Aidan Nagle RBI double.
Jesse Dunham threw well for the Owls, even though he picked up his 3rd loss on the season.
Dunham threw 7 ⅔ innings, allowing 10 hits, 3 earned runs, while walking 1, and striking out 9.
Cody Dubray threw ⅓ of an inning in relief for the Owls, hitting one batter, and making the other fly out to end the inning.
Dalton Daily,
Mitchel Swanson,
Zeke Cruz, Alex Malcom, and Tarakhchyan all led the team with a hit a piece.
Game Two: #24 Lewis-Clark State 4 Oregon Tech 3
Tech were three outs away from an essential CCC upset win in Lewiston, but clutch hitting from the Warriors won the contest.
Just like the 1st game, L-C got on the board first via a Brock Ephan home run on a 0-2 count. This gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning.
The Warriors would add to their lead the next inning off of a Riley Way RBI single, which extended their lead to 2-0.
The score would remain 2-0 in favor of the hosts until the 7th inning, as clutch pitching from
Patrick Arman kept the Owls in this rubber match.
In the top of the 7
th, the Owls plated two runs to tie the score at 2. Kaleb Keelan scored off of a wild pitch, and
Micah Jio added an RBI single.
As Arman continued to battle, the Owls would grab the lead in the top of the 9th. A
Dalton Daily double would score the go-ahead run for Tech, as they led going to the bottom of the 9th.
Unfortunately, in the bottom of the 9th, a Brock Ephan RBI double and a Luke White walk off RBI single proved to be the difference in the ball game.
Arman battled hard for the Owls, but picked up the loss, his 2nd of the year, to fall to 2-2.
Arman threw 8 ⅓ innings, giving up 7 hits, 4 runs, 3 that were earned, while walking none, and striking out 4.
The Owls were led offensively by Keelan and Jio who had 2-hits apiece.
Tech will return to action tomorrow, facing L-C State two more times at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM in Lewiston. Tech will have their home opener Friday, March 5 and Saturday March 6th against The Master's University.
