Freshman Cassie Bishop ranks second in the CCC this season with six home runs
Northwest Christian Swept by #21 Oregon Tech
EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon Tech , ranked #21 in the most recent NAIA coaches poll, mounted a pair of victories on Saturday to remain on top of the Cascade Conference standings as they swept Northwest Christian College 2-1 and 3-1.
Darci Byrne (7-10) pitched a gem for the Beacons in game one, scattering nine hits and striking out five batters while allowing just one earned run. The Beacons had scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Kaitlyn McAlister, but in the top of the seventh inning the Owls scored a pair of runs, the second and deciding run coming on an infield error. Jenny Bittle (12-5) picked up the win for Oregon Tech, striking out eight batters while allowing just five hits.
The Owls went to work early in game two, scoring two runs in the first inning to take the lead for good. Northwest Christian grabbed their only run of the game in the bottom of the first when leadoff hitter Cassie Bishop crushed a fast ball over the deepest part of the outfield for a solo home run. The bomb was her sixth of the season, tying the NCC single-season record, set by Lanea Hyland in 2006.
Oregon Tech went on to add an insurance run in the fifth inning that almost became very important. The Beacons opened the seventh inning with back-to-back hit batters and starting pitcher Keri Gesner (9-5) was replaced by Bittle. After a wild pitch put the runners on second and third, the senior was able to shut the door, retiring the next three Beacon hitters in order to end the game and record her first save of the season.
Northwest Christian (8-23, 2-12 CCC) will be back in action on Monday when they play host to Patten College of Oakland, California as they take a break from the grueling Cascade Collegiate Conference schedule. The Oregon Tech Owls (22-10, 12-2) are off until next Friday when they will play host to Concordia.