PENDLETON, Ore. – Oregon Tech rallied from a 10-run sixth inning deficit to complete their biggest comeback victory in program history, helping the Hustlin' Owls complete a 4-game sweep of Eastern Oregon at Blue Mountain Community College.
The Owls (11-9) erased a 14-4 deficit in the opener, as a
Patrick Barry walk-off 2-run double gave OIT a 17-16 win, while
Cody Dubray struck out seven in an 11-4 Tech win in the series finale.
The 10-run deficit was the largest comeback for an OIT team since baseball returned to the school in 2002. It surpassed a 9-run comeback in a 13-11 win over College of Idaho in 2015.
After spotting the Mounties (8-11) a 3-0 first inning lead in Game 1, the Owls took a 4-3 edge in the second on a bases-clearing double from
Matthew Ortiz. However, the home run ball gave EOU momentum, as a Mario Landeros 2-run shot in the third gave the Mountaineers a lead, with Eastern adding three fourth inning homers – helping the squad build the 14-4 lead.
Tech would chip away at the deficit – as
Tyler Horner hit a solo homer in the sixth, with the Owls batting around for seven runs in the seventh. Barry and
Korrey Siracusa provided RBI singles and
Julien Jones delivered a 2-run double that cut the margin to 14-12.
EOU added two key insurance runs in the ninth – but it wasn't enough. Jones rapped a 2-run double to pull Tech within 16-14, with Jones scoring on a dropped fly ball off the bat of
Alonzo Vergara to pull the Owls within a run. After two walks loaded the bases, Barry one-hopped the wall in left for a ground-rule double, providing the winning margin.
Jones was 3-for-5 with four RBI, Ortiz had four RBI and Barry was 2-for-5 with three RBI in the win. Additionally, Siracusa tied an NAIA national record for single-game hit-by-pitches, as the Owls second baseman was plunked four times in the contest.
Game 2 was all OIT, as Tech rolled to a 10-0 lead in the fourth and cruised.
Dubray pitched five strong innings, holding Eastern to two runs on four hits.
The Owls scored seven times in the second – with RBI doubles from
Dane Bradshaw and Siracusa and a 2-run homer from Ortiz providing the big knocks. Horner added a fourth inning solo homer, his seventh of the season.
Nine OIT players had one hit in the win, with
Kyle Norton stealing a pair of bags – two of his five stolen bases in the doubleheader.
Tech continues their road trip next weekend – heading to Keizer for a 4-game series at Corban.
