KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.— Oregon Tech (14-18, 9-9 CCC) got swept in the Friday doubleheader to #7 Lewis-Clark State (24-2, 17-1 CCC). Tech had an 8-3 lead late in game 1, but the Warriors' bats came to life, scoring 12 unanswered runs for the win.
 
"Mental toughness is the ability to focus on what we can control and reset to compete with each pitch. We did not do that well with two outs today and gave up too many runs. I'm looking forward to doing a better job and competing pitch to pitch tomorrow," said Coach Garsez.
 
Game One: #7 Lewis-Clark State 15 Oregon Tech 8
 
LC led off the top of the 1st by getting the bases juiced with 2 outs. However, Tech starter Patrick Arman worked his way around the jam, earning a pop-out in foul territory to end the frame.
 
In the bottom of the 1st, Tech wasn't able to get anything going, and the score would be knotted after 1.
 
In the top of the 2nd Inning, Matt James launched a ball off of the Kiger Stadium sign to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.
 
After LC drew a walk, A.J. Davis would pick up where James left off, sending a ball deep over the left field wall. The HR would extend the Warriors' lead to 3-0.
 
The Owls wouldn't go quietly though.
 
In the bottom of the 2nd, Tech plated 3 runs of their own to tie the game.
 
RBI singles from Zack Stockton and Alex Malcom would bring the Owls within 1. Michael Tarakhchyan would then groundout but score the runner from 3rd for the 3rd run.
 
In the 3rd inning, Arman and Warriors' starter Holmes settled in, throwing a scoreless frame a piece.
 
Arman would throw another scoreless frame in the 4th and set up Tech to take the lead. In the bottom of the 4th, Zack Stockton went yard on a nuke that plated Jesse Dunham as well.
 
After walking Kaleb Keelean on the next at-bat, Holmes' day would be done, and the Warriors would bring on their ace, Tallon Thomason.
 
After Thomason walked Jio, Dalton Daily (Pictured) unloaded on a 0-2 pitch that cleared the 385 sign by 30-40 feet, for a 3-run homer.
 
The home run put the Owls up 8-3 after 4 over the 7th-ranked Warriors.
 
Both teams would go quiet in the 5th, as Arman continued to throw well.
 
In the top of the 6th, an RBI single would end the day for Arman.
 
Arman threw 5 ⅓ giving up 4 runs on 7 hits, walking 3, and striking out 3.
 
Josh Davis would come on in relief for Tech, and immediately get a groundball double play to end the inning.
 
The Owls would go quietly in the bottom of the 6th.
 
Davis would trot out for the 7th, but LC began to get their bats hot. After 3 hits and a walk, Davis would hand the ball over to Dunham.
 
Dunham would inherit the bases loaded with 1 out. He'd get a groundball and a popout, but the Warriors would pick up a run to make it 8-6 heading to the 7th Inning Stretch.
 
In the top of the 8th, LC would continue to chip away. Dillon Plew hit an RBI triple to cut the Owl lead to 8-7.
 
Brock Ephan would then hit the sac fly to center, and just like that, the game was knotted at 8. Aidan Nagle would then hit an RBI double to give the Warriors a 9-8 lead.
 
In the top of the 9th, LC would grab some game-sealing insurance picking up 6 runs in the top of the 9th.
 
Dunham would pick up the loss for Tech.
 
Tech was led at the plate by Kellen Mendez who was 3-4 on the game.
 
Game Two: #7 Lewis-Clark State: 16 Oregon Tech: 5 (7)
 
LC State picked up right where they left off in game 1, scoring 2 runs in the 1st and 2nd inning. The continuation of strong offense from the Warriors was highlighted by Dalton Harum, who launched a 2-run HR in the 2^nd.
 
In the bottom of the 3rd, Tech took advantage of 4 walks from LC starter, Trent Sellers. The Owls grabbed 1 run, to close the gap to 4-1, but left 3 runners on base.
 
The Warriors would take advantage of walks just like Tech did in the top of the 4th. The Warriors drew walks, hit by pitches and scored off of a balk to extend their lead to 7-1.
 
After LC pushed their lead to 8-1, Tech starter Jacob Miller's day was done.
 
Coming on in his relief was Ryan Poling.
 
Poling would get out of the jam and send Tech to the bottom half where they'd make life tough for Sellers. After multiple walks and hit-by-pitches, Tech grabbed a run back and forced the Warriors to go to their pen.
 
Lucas Gregory came into throw for LC-St, but Micah Jio hopped on him immediately. Jio hit a 2RBI single through the right side to cut their deficit to 8-4.
 
Mitchel Swanson would follow in suit with an RBI single of his own and all of a sudden the Warriors lead was trimmed to 8-5.
 
Jax Evenhus came in for his 2021 debut for Tech in the top of the 5th. Unfortunately for Evenhus, his first pitch was sent over the left-field wall by Harum for his 2nd HR of the day.
 
Tech trailed 9-5 headed to the 6th. In the top of the 6th, Aidan Nagle padded the Warrior lead with an opposite field 2RBI double that extended the LC lead to 11-5.
 
After Evenhus walked in a run, it was time for another change on the bump. With the Owls trailing 12-5, Cole Little came on for his 2nd appearance this season.
 
Little inherited a bases loaded 1 out jam, but quickly got out of it, striking both batters out.
 
LC-State would take 4 more on in the top of the 7th, 3 runs coming off of a Matt James HR.
 
Leading 16-5, the Warriors went to the bottom of the 7th needing 3 outs for the run-rule victory.
 
Brooks Juhasz got the 3 outs he needed, picking up the win for Tech.
 
Tech was led at the plate by Jio who was 2-3 at the plate.
 
OIT will return to play tomorrow to face off against LC-St in two more games in this 4 game series at Kiger Stadium.
 
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