LANCASTER, Calif. – Oregon Tech earned their first series win of the 2024 season, getting a big afternoon from Matthew Ortiz to sweep a doubleheader from the University of Antelope Valley at Lancaster Community Stadium.
 
Ortiz finished 5-for-7 on the day, with four stolen bases and six RBI, helping the Owls (5-7) claim 11-7 and 6-4 victories against the regional rival.
 
Tech never trailed in either game, capitalizing on 14 walks by Pioneers (7-5) pitchers.
 
OIT scored single runs in the first two innings of Game 1 – as Alonzo Vergara singled home Korrey Siracusa in the first and Ortiz plated Patrick Barry in the second with a single. The Owls would extend the margin to 6-1 in the fourth – with Siracusa lacing a 2-run single and Tyler delivering a run scoring base hit.
 
The lead would grow to 9-2 in the fifth, thanks to a 2-run error by UAV and an Ortiz single – with the OIT bullpen closing out the final five innings of the victory.
 
Tim Williams allowed one earned run in three innings of relief to pick up the victory, with Ortiz finishing the game 5-for-6 with four stolen bases. Barry had two hits, two stolen bases and four runs scored, with both Siracusa and Vergara having two hits.
 
Game 2 featured eight total hits by the two teams, with the Owls turning UAV walks into runs.
 
Two walks came around to score in the third, as Siracusa and Ortiz each lifted sacrifice flies to stake the visitors out to a 2-0 lead. The lead would double an inning later – as Vergara tripled and scored on a Kyle Norton ground out, while Ty Blakely tripled and courtesy runner Dane Bradshaw scored on a walk to Ortiz.
 
OIT got two key insurance runs in the seventh – one on a Julien Jones homer and another on an error following a Ka'ala Tam stolen base.
 
The Pioneers made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh, as Ethan Blythe hit a 2-run homer to pull UAV within 6-4, but Riley Cronin capped a 3 2/3 inning relief appearance by getting a pop up to end the game to claim the victory.
 
Blakely had two hits in the victory for Tech, with Cronin allowing two hits and fanning two in the win.
 
OIT returns to the Basin next weekend to start an 8-game homestand, beginning with Saturday-Sunday doubleheaders against Western Oregon. First pitch from Steen Sports Park is set for 11 a.m. on both days.