SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – Ka'ala Tam went 5-for-8 on the day, as Oregon Tech clinched a spot in the Cascade Conference Championships with a doubleheader split against Bushnell at Hamlin Sports Complex.
 
After dropping Game 1, 6-4, the Hustlin' Owls (28-15, 13-5 CCC) earned a 7-5 decision under the lights – clinching their third playoff appearance in the last four years.
 
Tam was 3-for-4 in the Owls victory, as Bronson Chapple struck out eight batters in seven solid innings, picking up his league leading eighth win.
 
Tech jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the third – scoring three in the second on a Kyle Norton RBI single and RBI ground outs from Keanu Mizuta and Ty Blakely – adding three in the third, keyed by a Tam 2-run double.
 
The Beacons (24-19, 11-7) chipped away, cutting the deficit to 6-2 in the third on a Isaiah Hart 2-run double and getting within 7-5 in the eighth on a Cade Crist homer – but Tim Williams got the final six outs to log his team-best fifth save.
 
BU claimed the opener, as Daniel Furman worked six innings of 3-hit ball – taking advantage of a 3-run Jordan Wilson homer in the first and a big 3-run sixth inning rally.
 
The Owls got home runs from Julien Jones and Tam – but were limited to five hits in the loss.
 
The two teams close out the weekend series tomorrow with an 11 a.m. doubleheader.