LA GRANDE, Ore. – Oregon Tech used a 4-run ninth inning rally to salvage a doubleheader split at Eastern Oregon, dropping Game 1, 6-5, before claiming the nightcap at Optimist Park, 7-4.
 
Matthew Ortiz ran his hit streak to 20 games with a pair of 2-hit efforts, while Tyler Horner went 4-for-10 with his league-leading 13th home run of the season, adding three RBI.
 
"Today were two hard fought games, both teams played well," said OIT head coach Jacob Garsez. "We were solid defensively, making big plays in big moments and hit well with two outs. Thought we pitched well in big moments. We've been one of the best two-strike hitting teams and today we were not – was probably the difference in Game 1. Overall, I thought we battled all day."
 
The Mountaineers (13-27, 4-14 CCC) struck first in Game 1, as Trevor Baker lined a second inning RBI double – one of eight EOU doubles in their win.
 
The Hustlin' Owls (25-14, 10-4) answered back – tying the game in the fifth on a Kyle Norton RBI double and taking a 3-1 lead in the sixth after a Brady Culp RBI single and Ka'ala Tam scoring from third on a double steal.
 
EOU answered against the Owls bullpen – as Joey Freitas doubled home a run in the seventh to cut the deficit to a run, with Brandon Taddy lining an eighth inning 2-run single to give the Mounties the lead.
 
Horner hit a 2-out homer in the ninth to pull OIT within a run – but the Owls could not get the tying run across.
 
Ortiz, Norton and Horner all had two hits in the loss, with Parker Cumberland going 3-for-5 for EOU.
 
Game 2 started with a bang, as Ortiz launched a leadoff home run to stake Tech to the early lead.
 
Eastern built a 4-1 lead by the fifth – as Baker lined a 2-run second inning single, Cumberland doubled in a run in the fourth and Freitas hit his ninth home run of the year.
 
OIT answered as Horner capped a 2-run sixth with an RBI single to pull the Owls within 4-3. In the ninth, Korrey Siracusa singled and Alonzo Vergara was hit by a pitch. Tam layed down a bunt, with the throw to first going down the right field line, allowing Siracusa and Vergara to score to give Tech the lead. Patrick Barry brought in a run with a squeeze bunt and Horner doubled home a run to extend the lead.
 
Bronson Chapple earned his seventh win of the year, striking out eight in eight innings, with Tim Williams earning his fourth save. Siracusa, Ortiz and Horner all had 2-hit games.
 
The two teams close out the series tomorrow with an 11 a.m. doubleheader.