LA GRANDE, Ore.— Oregon Tech (19-21, 14-12) grabbed two wins in a critical road series over Eastern Oregon (4-26, 4-22). The Hustlin' Owls won game 1, 12-2, and game 2, 4-0, as they look to battle down the stretch with Corban for 2nd place. The two victories for Tech moves them 1 game ahead of Corban who is 14-14 in CCC play. Kellen Mendez also lit it up in the box for Tech, going 7-10 at the plate across the Saturday doubleheader.
 
Following the game, Garsez remarked, "Great competitive day for us. Solid efforts on the mound, made some big plays defensively, and we stacked together good at bats."
 
Game One: Oregon Tech 12 Eastern Oregon 2
 
It's almost became a forgone conclusion this season that the Hustlin' Owls score in the 1st inning.
 
Once again, Tech grabbed the early lead off of a pair of RBI singles from Kellen Mendez and Alex Malcom.
 
Leading 2-0, the Mountaineers would pull one run back in the bottom of the inning. Juan Guardado doubled to right-center field to pull Eastern within 1 after 1.
 
However, the run would be unearned to Patrick Arman would be in the midst of another great start for the Hustlin' Owls.
 
Both sides would go quiet from the 2nd to the 4th innings. It was Micah Jio who would get the offense rolling again for OIT, as he homered in the 5th inning, plating Kaleb Keelean to push the Tech lead to 4-1.
 
EOU would cut it to 4-2 in the bottom half, but that would be all they'd get in the contest.
 
Patrick Arman would exit the game after throwing 6 solid innings for OIT on the bump. Arman threw 6 innings, allowing 7 hits, 1 earned run, with 6 strikeouts.
 
After Arman exited, Jax Evenhus came in and was lights out, slamming the door for Tech.
 
Evenhus would end up throwing 3 scoreless frames allowing only 1 hit. In the span of dominance from Evenhus, Tech would add 4 runs in the 7th, 1 in the 8th, and 3 in the 9th to seal a 12-2 game 1 victory.
 
Tech was led at the plate by Kellen Mendez who went 5-5, a career high for the first basemen.
 
 
Game Two: Oregon Tech 4 Eastern Oregon 2
 
Once again, Tech jumped out to an early lead, scoring 3 runs in the top of the 1st.
 
Dalton Daily drove in two with a single and Michael Tarakhchyan followed up with a hit of his own to account for an early 3-0 Tech lead.
 
After the early onslaught, the game would settle into a groove.
 
Tech would add 1 run in the 4th, when Micah Jio grounded into a fielder's choice to put Tech up 4-0.
 
Jacob Miller was the player of the game for both sides, as OIT got an amazing outing from the junior as he threw 7-scoreless innings, allowing 5-hits, no runs, 1 walk, and he struck out 4.
 
Leading 4-0 after 7, Tech would hand the ball to Spencer Dahlke, who did his job by keeping the lead at 4.
 
Tech would remain ahead 4-0 heading to the bottom of the 9th, when they'd hand the ball off to senior Josh Davis (#20 Pictured).
 
Davis struggled, allowing two earned runs in just a third of an inning, forcing Garsez to give the ball to Dunham after Davis had walked in a run.
 
Dunham inherited a 4-1 lead, but the bases were loaded with only 1 out.
 
Dunham got the first batter out with a sac fly, then struck out Guardado for the win.
 
Tech was led at the plate by Kellen Mendez and Micah Jio who had two hits apiece.
 
The two teams hope to finish the four games series on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 am.
 
 
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