LEWISTON, Idaho – Bushnell University batted around for nine runs in the third inning, breaking a 2-2 tie, as the Beacons sent Oregon Tech to the elimination bracket of the 2026 Cascade Conference Baseball Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, with a 16-4 setback at Harris Field.
The Hustlin' Owls (24-27) will play College of Idaho at 11 a.m. on Saturday, needing a win to earn a rematch with Bushnell later in the day.
The Beacons (26-26) struck in the opening inning on a 2-run Nate Stevens single, but Tech battled back, as
Aiden Corkery scored on a second inning BU fielding error and
Andrew Sharp clubbed a long solo homer in the third, tying the score at 2-2.
From that point, it was all Bushnell. Dylan Carson lined a 2-run double and Caleb Ritcher launched a 3-run homer in the big inning, with the Beacons adding four runs in the fourth to extend the margin to 15-2.
OIT got two runs back in the fifth on Sharp's second home run of the day – but BU starter Austin Wolfe kept the Owls at distance, striking out seven, in the complete game effort.
The Beacons were able to capitalize on seven walks and five hit by pitches from four OIT pitchers.
Sharp and Jojo Roman each had two hits in the loss for Tech, while Stevens finished 2-for-4 with four RBI in the win for the Eugene school.
Tech will meet College of Idaho, a 10-5 loser to British Columbia in today's second game. Bushnell went on to drop a 6-4 decision to host Lewis-Clark State in the final game of the day.
GAME 1 – Bushnell 18, Oregon Tech 4 (7 inn.)
GAME 2 – British Columbia 10, College of Idaho 5
GAME 3 – Lewis-Clark State 6, Bushnell 4
SATURDAY
GAME 4 – Oregon Tech vs. College of Idaho, 11 a.m. (loser out)
GAME 5 – British Columbia vs. Lewis-Clark State, 2:30 p.m.
GAME 6 – Bushnell vs. Game 4 Winner, 6 p.m. (loser out)
