TEMPE, AZ. – Oregon Tech (6-5) suffered their third consecutive loss on Friday in a close defeat to #13 Vanguard (CA.) (9-2). The Owls will have a chance to end the Firestorm Classic on a high note tomorrow when they face Arizona Christian (10-2) at Noon in Tempe.

Following the defeat, HC Jacob Garsez said: "Played a good team today, but we have high expectations for our selves on how well we compete pitch to pitch. It was much improved today, but we still had too many lapses which was the difference in the game. From my experience competitive attitude and culture is the separator and we are in the process of learning to meet our expectations more consistently."

#13 Vanguard University 9 Oregon Tech 6

Needing a bounce-back performance as a team on the hill, Tech sent Jacob Miller out on Friday, looking to ride the senior's arm to their first victory of the week. 

Miller got off to a tough start, allowing a solo shot in the top of the first, but eventually, he settled in. 

Miller would go seven strong, allowing five runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out five.

After Miller exited, Tech just barely trailed the 13th-ranked team in the country, by a score of 3-5.

In the 8th inning, Tech got a spark from Tyler Horner, who went yard to cut their deficit.

The long bomb from the freshman was just the fourth of his young career as he aimed to inspire his dugout.

Unfortunately for Tech, Vanguard hung a three-run ninth inning on Spencer Dahlke, digging too deep of a hole for Tech to recover from.

The Hustlin' Owls were able to load the bases a few times in the bottom of the ninth but only scratched across two runs.

The loss was charged to Miller, while Vanguard's Graves picked up the win.

Tech was lead at the plate by Horner, who went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs.