SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – Strong starting pitching wasn't enough for Oregon Tech, as Bushnell used late inning rallies to sweep the opening Cascade Conference doubleheader of the season, taking 8-7 and 5-3 decisions at Hamlin Sports Complex.
The Beacons (9-1, 2-0 CCC) used a 3-run ninth inning rally to walk off Game 1, while the hosts plated two seventh inning runs in Game 2 to break a 3-3 tie to claim the sweep.
Despite the loss, OIT (7-4, 0-2) shortstop hit safely in both games, extending his hit streak to 27 games – the second-longest in CCC history – one away from the record of 28 games set by College of Idaho's Dustin Garcia in 2003.
The Owls erased a 2-1 deficit in the opener, using a 3-run third inning – as
Ka'ala Tam broke a tie with a 2-run single. Barry made it 6-2 in the sixth with a 2-run triple, but Bushnell used the long ball – getting a 2-run blast from Jordan Wilson and a solo shot from Will Hudler to pull within 6-5.
Tech got an insurance run in the eighth off a pinch-hit solo home run from
Jacob Cook – but the Owls could not get the final two outs in the ninth. A one-out walk was followed by a Hudler double – with a passed ball on a dropped third strike allowing a run to score. A fielders choice allowed the tying run to score, while a throwing error put the winning run at third. Following an intentional walk, Max Richards watched a 3-2 pitch miss inside, forcing in the game-winning run for the Beacons.
Tam was 2-for-3 for Tech, including his second homer of the year, with
Tim Williams tossing six strong innings, striking out seven in a no-decision. Hudler was 3-for-4 in the win for Bushnell.
Game 2 was similar, as the Owls took a 3-2 lead in the sixth as Cook scored on a wild pitch and Barry added an RBI single. Starter
Landon Cheney allowed just two earned runs and fanned five in six innings – but BU responded in the seventh. Chase Nye tied the game with an RBI single, followed by back-to-back RBI doubles from Chase Smith and Jacob Richardson.
Garrett Vohs threw three shutout innings to earn the win for BU, limiting Tech to two hits and striking out four.
Barry had the lone multi-hit game, going 3-for-3.
The two teams close out the series tomorrow with an 11 a.m. contest.
