Owls Sweep, Postseason Berth One Win Away
REDDING, Calif. – Oregon Tech scored three unanswered runs over Simpson University late in the opener to win 6-4, while the Owls pounded out 16 hits and held off the Red Hawks in the nightcap, 12-8. Oregon Tech (19-33, 10-16 NAIA West) is now seeking one win over Simpson on Sunday for a berth into the NAIA West postseason tournament.
BJ Wilson tossed 2 1/3 innings in relief, allowing just one hit to earn the win for the Owls. Starter Chase Meister scattered eight hits and struck out five in 6 2/3 on the mound.
Tied 4-4 heading into the last inning, the Owls plated two runs to move up 6-4, while Wilson faced just three batters in the final inning to earn the win.
Dylan Rogers led off the ninth with a single only to see the next two batters record outs. Ethan Schlecht kept the two-out rally going with a single, while Tyler Conklin followed with a RBI single to put the Owl up 5-4. Dustin Norman pushed Tech up by a 6-4 score with SU coming to bat.
Simpson led off the final frame with a single, however, a double play and fly out gave the Owls the 6-4 win.
Conklin recorded three hits for the Owls, while Rogers and Norman added a pair in the win for the Owls.
Game 2 – Oregon Tech held a comfortable 9-2 advantage after four at-bats, but SU tacked on three runs in their half of the fourth inning, along with two additional runs in the fifth inning, as the Owls clung to a 9-7 lead.
The Owls would eventually move up four runs, 12-8, as the teams headed into the final inning.
Alex Reynolds recorded his second hit of the game in the ninth inning, but after he was caught stealing, Simpson took their final turn.
Tech relief pitcher, Eric Christiansen, would record the first two outs in the ninth with SU next reaching on an error. Tech would earn the sweep after a ground out ended the game by same margin, 12-8.
In for a relief outing for Tech starter Talon Sisley, who went 6 1/3 innings and recorded the win, Eric Christiansen tossed the final 2 2/3 innings to earn the save. Sisley struck out six and allowed 10 SU hits in his stint on the mound, while Christiansen allowed just one hit during his relief work.
Ethan Schlecht went 4-for-4 at the plate with a double and RBI, while Spencer Reed added a triple, double and three RBI in the win for the Owls. Ryan Hayden, Rogers, Reynolds and Aaron Bocchi recorded two hits with Hayden and Bocchi adding a double. Rogers and Hayden drove in two runs with Reynolds and Bocchi adding a RBI for Tech.