Owls Open 2010 Baseball Campaign with Win

1/30/2010 9:32:27 AM

IRVINE, CA --- The Oregon Tech baseball team came up with a two-run ninth inning that sealed the deal on a 7-5 win in the 2010 season opener over Concordia-Irvine Friday afternoon in non-conference play.

Oregon Tech (1-0), playing outside for the first time since the fall, committed six errors, allowed four passed balls and beaned three batters, but stranded nine Eagles on the bases. Only one of Concordia's five runs was earned.

Oregon Tech ended the nine inning affair with 11 hits, while the Tech pitching held UC Irvine to just seven hits. Trent Smith finished with two hits, including the Owls only extra base hit – a double, and two RBI. Colin Stock was 2-for-4 at the plate and Hayden Wolfe finished 2-for-3 with two RBI.

Oregon Tech was down 3-0 before tying the game at 3 apiece in the fifth inning. Two runs in the sixth gave the Owls a 5-3 advantage, but the Eagles would tie it up at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth.

After the Eagles had tied the game at 5-5, the Hustlin' Owls loaded the bases with one out in the ninth. The Eagle pitching struck out the first batter they faced, but then allowed an infield single and walked in a run to make it a 7-5 game.

Oregon Tech right-hander Zack Earle picked up the win with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. He came on with two on and one out in the eighth and retired the next two batters to improve to 1-0. Starter Neil Emerson went five solid innings allowing six hits and one earned run. Zach O’Hanen pitched 2.1 innings and gave up only one hit before handing Earle the ball for the final five outs.

The Owls next take on Vanguard University tomorrow in Costa Mesa in a double header beginning at 11:00 am.