LEWISTON, Idaho – Oregon Tech hit four home runs in a morning elimination game win, but the Hustlin' Owls saw their 2026 ended under the lights at Harris Field, as Bushnell topped Tech, 5-1, in the third-round of the Cascade Conference Baseball Championships, presented by U.S. Bank.
OIT (25-28) rallied to eliminate College of Idaho, 13-10, in the first game of the day, but stranded 12 runners in the nightcap – as the Owls finished one game away from a chance to return to the NAIA National Tournament.
Tech took a 1-0 lead against Bushnell, as
Jacob Cook singled home Jojo Roman in the first inning. The Beacons (27-26) answered in the bottom of the frame, as Dylan Carson cleared the bases with a double. The lead would grow to 5-1 in the third on a Caleb Ritcher 2-run triple.
The Owls had opportunities – leaving a runner in scoring position in six of the nine innings and out-hit BU, 9-7. Starter D.J. Kauahi struck out 10 OIT batters in the victory.
Aiden Lundquist struck out eight in five strong innings of relief to give the Owls a chance, with Roman and
Nick Gimino posting 2-hit games.
Earlier in the day, the Hustlin' Owls battled back from early 4-0 and 6-2 deficits to stun the Yotes (29-21).
OIT trailed 4-0 after two innings, but a
Logan Macy 2-run third-inning homer got the Owls on the board and an inning later, Gimino tied the game at 6-6 following a grand slam home run.
Trailing 8-6, Tech tied the score in the fifth on a 2-run
Cal Pickhardt homer and took their first lead in the sixth on a Cook 2-run single.
Jack Ryan hit a 2-run homer in the seventh to tie the game at 10-10, but
Andrew Sharp provided the big blow, a long 3-run homer to give OIT the lead for good.
Lundquist retired all seven batters he faced for the win in relief, with Gimino going 3-for-4 and both Sharp and
Aiden Corkery posting two hits.
The loss ended OIT's season at 25-28 – with the team securing a 25-win season for a fifth-straight year.
