KEIZER, Ore. – Rallying from 5-0 and 6-1 deficits, Oregon Tech scored nine runs over the final three innings to stun Corban, 10-7, in the opening game of a 4-game weekend series at Volcanoes Stadium
Patrick Barry went 3-for-3 – extending his hit streak to 29 games, establishing a new Cascade Conference all-time record.
Trailing 5-1 in the seventh,
Julien Jones started the comeback with an RBI single, with
Tyler Horner following, lining a 2-run single to cap an 11-pitch at bat, pulling the Owls (9-4, 2-2 CCC) within a run.
After the Warriors (6-6, 2-2) added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning, Tech took advantage of wildness from Corban pitchers – loading the bases on three walks, with Barry lining an RBI single and
Matthew Ortiz tying the game on a bases loaded walk. Jones gave OIT the lead after being plunked by a pitch and Horner made it 8-6 with an RBI fielders choice.
Corban got within a run in the bottom of the eighth on a Nate Owens ground out, but
Riley Cronin was summoned from the pen and got a strikeout with the tying run at third to end the threat.
OIT tacked on a pair of runs in the ninth, as Ortiz singled home a pair – with Cronin working a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning for his third save.
The Warriors built a 5-0 lead in the fourth, with Josh Miyazawa clearing the bases with a 3-run triple into the right field corner – but were unable to hold the lead.
Ortiz finished 2-for-5 with four RBI and Jones was 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Kaden Melzer got the win for Tech, working an inning and a third of one-run relief. Starter
Tim Williams worked into the seventh, allowing seven hits and six runs.
The two teams return to action tomorrow at 3 p.m. – playing Games 2 and 3 of a 4-game series.
