LEWISTON, Idaho – Despite a 4-hit day from Kyle Norton and Tyler Horner's 15th home run of the season, Oregon Tech dropped a first-round Cascade Conference Tournament game to British Columbia, 9-8, at Harris Field.
 
The Hustlin' Owls (34-17) will have to win 4-straight elimination games to win the league title, beginning tomorrow at 2 p.m. against host Lewis-Clark State.
 
OIT grabbed a 3-0 lead through three innings – as Horner tied a school-record with his 21st double of the season, a first inning RBI 2-base hit, to get the Owls on the board, while adding a solo blast in the third.
 
UBC (31-17) took the lead for good in the fourth, as a Jaden Lamothe 2-run double was the big blow in a 4-run inning. The margin grew to 8-3 in the seventh on a Jonny McGill 3-run home run.
 
Tech would make it interesting late, as a Dane Bradshaw RBI single in the eighth cut the margin to 8-5 and in the ninth, RBI doubles from Patrick Barry and Norton got the Owls within 9-8. However, T-Bird closer Vic Domingo coaxed a ground ball with the tying run in scoring position to end the game.
 
Norton finished 4-for-5, adding his school-record 31st stolen base of the year, with Horner going 3-for-5. Cody Dubray took the loss, striking out five in six-plus innings of work.
 
The Owls will face No. 5-ranked LCSC tomorrow after the top-seeded Warriors dropped a 13-5 decision to Bushnell.
 
CCC Baseball Tournament
 
Game 1 – British Columbia 9, Oregon Tech 8
Game 2 – Bushnell 13, Lewis-Clark State 5
 
Game 3 -  British Columbia vs. Bushnell, Sunday, 11 a.m.
Game 4 – Oregon Tech vs. LC State, Sunday, 2 p.m. (loser out)
Game 5 – Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, Sunday, 5 p.m. (loser out)
 
Game 6 – Championship Game, Monday, 1 p.m.