REDDING, Calif. – A record-setting offensive day netted Oregon Tech a doubleheader sweep, as the Hustlin' Owls claimed 6-4 and 19-8 victories over Simpson University.
 
Julien Jones hit four home runs – including a school-record three long balls in the Game 2 win, while Tyler Horner became the all-time OIT home run king in the nightcap.
 
"It was a great day for Tech baseball," said head coach Ricky Walker. "Offensively, it was fun to watch. We have been training all week to make sure we capitalize with runners in scoring position and two outs."
 
In the opener, the Owls (5-2) rode a strong start from Tim Williams to the victory, as the senior tossed five and a third innings of 5-hit ball, striking out four. Kaden Melzer worked three innings of 1-run relief and Riley Cronin earned his eighth career save, stranding the tying run in the ninth inning.
 
Jones staked Tech out to a 2-0 lead in the opening inning, blasting his third home run of the season, while an inning later, Matt Ortiz extended the margin to 3-0 with a sacrifice fly. The Owls made it 5-0 in the fifth, as Horner walked, moved to third on a Jones double, with both runners scoring on a 2-run Korrey Siracusa double.
 
The Redhawks (4-13) tried to battle back, scoring three sixth inning runs – but Melzer stopped the rally and Cronin slammed the door.
 
Jones finished 2-for-5, with Patrick Barry going 2-for-4 in the win.
 
Game 2 was the most prolific power game in OIT history – as the Owls combined to hit a school-record seven home runs. Horner opened the scoring with a 2-run blast in the first, followed by a Jones solo shot. Ka'ala Tam and Ty Blakely had RBI doubles and Michael O'Daniel had a run-scoring single in the 7-run frame.
 
An inning later, Jones hit his second bomb of the game, with Jacob Cook adding his second homer of the year, extending the lead to 9-0.
 
Records fell in the fifth, as Horner hit a 2-run blast – the 31st of his career, breaking OIT's all-time record. Two pitches later Jones launched his third home run of the game to make it 15-3 – becoming the first OIT player to hit three homers in a game.
 
In the seventh, Garrett Smith got into the long ball act, with Ryan McCabe singling home a run and J.D. Gunderson adding an RBI double – the freshmen's first career hits and RBI.
 
Landon Cheney earned the win, striking out a career-high six batters in four innings of work.
 
"Landon gave us a quality outing," Walker said. "Had a lot of strikeouts, showing us he has some swing-and-miss stuff – something really solid to build on as we enter conference play."
 
Jones was 3-for-4 with three RBI, Horner was 2-for-5 with five RBI, Tam recorded a pair of doubles and Blakely added a pair of hits. Barry recorded a first inning single – extending his hitting streak to 23 games – tying OIT's all-time record.
 
The two teams close out the series tomorrow with a Noon doubleheader.