Tyson Dahl hit a walk-off two-run homer in the 11th to lead the Owls to a come-from-behind 13-11 win over C of I. (photo by Kelly Caleb)
Four Homers Power Oregon Tech to Sweep over College of Idaho
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Brendon Flaherty capped a seven-run ninth inning in the nightcap with a three-run shot to send game 2 to extra innings, while Tyson Dahl provided the heroics, a walk-off two-run homer in the 11
th, as Oregon Tech powered by College of Idaho today in NAIA West baseball action. Ryan Grant provided all the firepower in the opener, driving in seven runs, including a pair of two-run homers in game 1, and in the process snapped an eight game skid, as the Owls swept the Yotes 9-8 and 13-11 today at Kiger Stadium.
The sweep improved the Owls to 14-25 overall and 5-13 in NAIA West play. College of Idaho fell to 27-17 on the season and even in conference play at 9-9.
The teams conclude the season series tomorrow at Kiger Stadium with the first pitch set at 11 a.m.
Game 1- C of I struck first with Cole Mansanerez doubling in the Yotes first run of the first inning to move up 1-0.
The Owls responded with two in their first at-bat with three more in the second inning giving the home team a 5-1 advantage. Grant and Ethan Schlecht drove in runs in the first with a RBI single by Dahl and two more from Grant giving the Owls a four run lead.
C of I would close to 5-2 with a run in the fourth with four more in the fifth giving the visitors a 6-5 lead. Troy Carr drove in a run with Sam Grise adding two on his single. Jake Hennessey capped the scoring on a sacrifice fly in the inning.
Grants two-run homer in the fifth gave the lead back to the Owls for good. C of I threatened in the seventh, but Tech’s relief pitchers, Greg Spallas and Flaherty, got the Owls out of the jam.
Spallas recorded a bases loaded strikeout with Flaherty coaxing a ground ball double play to keep the lead.
Grant came up big again with his second two-run homer and seventh RBI of the game in the seventh to move Tech up 9-6.
Flaherty was touched for a pair of runs in the eight and with the tying run on in the ninth got a double play and strikeout to end it, 9-8.
Grant finished 4-for-4 with Domonic Morris adding two hits and Dahl and Schlecht a RBI each in the opener. Michael McCall improved to 5-4 after striking out seven in his outing.
Troy Carr went 4-for-4 with two RBI and a double. Sam Grise drove in two with Mansanerez doubling in the loss.
Game 2- College of Idaho had all the momentum from the beginning scoring in each of the first four innings, including a five-run second and three more in the fourth to hold a 10-1 advantage.
The Owls were able to close their deficit to 10-4 after notching a single run in the seventh and two more in the eighth.
C of I plated their last run with one in the ninth, holding an 11-4 lead with the Owls facing their final at-bat.
Dylan Roger led off the inning with a double and later scored on a balk. Matthew Moorehead registered two RBI on his double and came around to score on a C of I error. With two outs and the score 11-8, Flaherty tied it with his three-run blast to left, 11-11. The inning ended on a strikeout.
Neither team scored in the first extra frame but C of I led off the 11
th with a single of Tech’s game 1 starter Michael McCall. McCall would get a double play and a ground out to end the inning.
Colton Minton led off the bottom of the inning with a single advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Matthew Del Fante. With two strikes, Dahl’s walk-off homer to left lifted Oregon Tech to the 13-11 win.
Dahl and Matthew Moorehead finished with two hits and two RBI each, while Del Fante drove in a pair in the win. Dahl, Rogers and Moorehead doubled with Flaherty driving in three on his ninth inning homerun. McCall picked up the win moving to 6-4 on the year.
Hennessey recorded three hits and two RBI with Mansanerez recording five RBI on two hits. Carr and Zach Fabricius added doubles in the loss for C of I.