KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Playing their first games of the season at Steen Sports Park, Oregon Tech split their home opening doubleheader with College of Idaho, dropping a tight 3-2 decision before claiming a 12-2 run-rule victory.
Patrick Barry tied a school record with five runs scored in the nightcap,
Tyler Horner extended his hit streak to 16 games with hits in both contests, while the Hustlin' Owls (17-9, 8-7 CCC) got solid pitching in both contests.
"We got outstanding starting pitching in both games," said OIT head coach
Ricky Walker. "I was happy with the adjustment we made in our approach at the plate in Game 2."
The opener was a pitching duel between Tech's
Tim Williams and the Coyotes (14-14, 4-11) Oliver Massie – with both pitchers earning a no-decision. Williams went eight innings for his second-straight start, holding C of I to two runs on six hits, striking out six, with Massie holding the Owls to two runs on four hits in seven innings, fanning seven.
The visitors took a 2-0 lead in the third, as Ben Gaff tripled with two outs, scoring on a James Hull single – followed by an RBI double from Jack Ingraham. OIT evened the score in the fifth, putting runners and second and third with one out – with
Garrett Smith and
Dane Bradshaw scoring on consecutive wild pitches.
C of I took the lead in the ninth, as Chandler Stocking scored on a wild pitch, while in the bottom of the ninth, OIT stranded the tying run at third base.
The Coyote pitching staff held the Owls to a season-low five hits – all by different players – with Gaff going 3-for-4 in the win for the Idaho side.
OIT never trailed in Game 2, taking advantage of a C of I error and wild pitch in the first inning to plate two runs. After the Yotes cut the margin to 2-1 in the second on a Cannon Morgan double, the Owls got the run back in the third on a
Logan Macy RBI single.
Tech broke the game wide open in the fifth – sending 11 batters to the plate. Barry ripped a run scoring single,
Garrett Smith doubled home a pair and
Keanu Mizuta provided the big blow, a bases-clearing double to the left-center power alley.
Smith made it 10-2 in the sixth with an RBI single, while
Ka'ala Tam ended the game in the eighth with a walk-off RBI single.
Landon Cheney worked four-plus innings, allowing two runs on five hits for the win, while
Caleb Randolph tossed three shutout innings for his first save of the year.
Barry was 2-for-2 with two walks, a hit-by-pitch and the five runs scored – becoming the fourth OIT player to achieve the feat. Mizuta had a pair of doubles in the win, with Smith going 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Morgan was 3-for-3 in the loss for C of I.
The two teams close out the 4-game series on Sunday with an 11 a.m. doubleheader.
