SPRINGFIELD, Ore. –
Ka'ala Tam had five hits and four RBI and
Tyler Horner added four hits and four RBI, as Oregon Tech split a crucial doubleheader with Bushnell University at Drifters Stadium.
The Hustlin' Owls (26-14, 13-5 CCC) squandered a lead in an 8-6 loss in Game 1, but rallied with 10 runs in the middle innings to earn a 14-7 victory in Game 2.
OIT had their chances in the opener, building a 5-1 lead in the seventh inning, however, the Beacons (20-17, 8-6) scored five times in the seventh and two more times in the eighth, to stun the visitors.
Tech grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second, getting RBI singles from
Bryce Petrilla and
Brodie Marino, extending the lead to 5-1 in the sixth following a
Matthew Ortiz RBI single and a Tam sacrifice fly. BU countered with a 3-run Jordan Wilson homer in the seventh, while later in the frame, an OIT error plated the go-ahead run.
The Beacons pushed the margin to 8-5 in the eighth off back-to-back RBI doubles from Wilson and Jameson Hussey – but OIT had one last rally. Tam led off the ninth with a solo homer and the Owls put the tying runners aboard with one out, but a double-play ball ended the game.
Patrick Arman struck out five in six-plus innings – earning a no-decision. Tam, Horner and Marino all finished 2-for-4, as the Owls stranded 12 runners in the loss.
OIT capitalized on the Beacons wildness in the nightcap, as BU pitchers combined to walk 11 batters and hit five more.
Trailing 4-2 in the fourth, the Owls plated five in the frame – keyed by a 2-run go-ahead triple from Horner. An inning later, the lead grew to 10-5 as Tech scored three runs without the benefit of a hit – as Beacon pitchers walked three batters, hit another and committed a key error.
It was enough for
Lalo Barraza, who struck out four in five-plus innings for his seventh win. Reliever
Braeden Bellum was dominant, striking out six in two-plus innings. Tam and
Sean Tobin each had three hits, with Tobin scoring a game-high four runs. Ortiz and Horner both had two hits, with Horner driving in four.
The two teams close out the weekend series tomorrow with an 11 a.m. doubleheader.