Tech's Keri Gesner took a perfect game into the sixth inning (photo by Kelly Caleb).
Gesner, Bittle Throw OIT Past Mountaineers
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Keri Gesner (Orting, WA) threw her second shutout in as many days and Jenni Bittle (Central Point, OR) allowed just one run as No. 23 Oregon Tech swept Eastern Oregon Saturday afternoon in Cascade Conference softball action.
In game one, Eastern Oregon was the first to get on the scoreboard as Iris Woodhead (Grants Pass, OR) doubled in Vanessa Wood (Hamilton, Mont.) who had walked to go up 1-0 in the second inning. That however would be the only scoring that EOU would see the rest of the day. Oregon Tech scored once in the third inning, three times in the fourth inning and four times in the fifth inning to put the game away, 8-1.
Jenni Bittle got her 11th win of the season for Tech, going seven innings and giving up one run on six hits, striking out six and walking three Mountaineers. Eastern Oregon’s Melodee Mildenberger (Hamilton, Mont.) pitched 4 1/3 innings, getting the loss, giving up 10 hits, eight runs (all earned), striking out one and walking three.
Oregon Tech’s hitting brigade was led by Chelsea McNeil (Seattle, WA), hitting 3 for 3 and scoring twice. Amber Sinicrope (Kirkland, WA) went 2-4 with 2 RBI’s, and Brittany Warren went 2-3 while scoring twice. Bess Fagan (Klamath Falls, OR) also added her third homer of the season in the fifth inning. The Lady Owls outhit the Mountaineers for the game 11-6.
The second game was all about Keri Gesner, who took a perfect game into the sixth inning before Melodee Mildenburger broke up the perfect game with a pinch-hit double with one out in the sixth. Iris Woodhead got the only other hit for Eastern with a double in the seventh. Oregon Tech scored twice in the first inning then broke the game wide open with five runs in the sixth, including a two-run homer to deep left by a very hot-hitting Sunny Titus (Salem, Ore.). Titus followed up her 5-8 performance on Friday with three more hits in seven at-bats on Saturday. Gesner got the win as she went the distance, allowing just the two doubles, striking out eight Mountaineers while walking none.
Titus led the Owls, scoring twice and driving in two runs in the nightcap. For the game Oregon Tech outhit Eastern Oregon, 7-2. Gesner got the win, upping her record to 8-5 on the season. Kelly West took the loss for Eastern, dropping to 4-6.
With the two wins, Oregon Tech improved to 20-10 on the season and 10-2 in the Cascade Conference. Eastern Oregon falls to 10-14 on the season and 5-7 in the Cascade Conference.
Oregon Tech will next play at Northwest Christian in Eugene on Saturday, April 12. Tech's next home game will be next Sunday, April 13, as the Lady Owls play host to Patten College in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for noon.