Hustlin' Owls Sweep Warriors
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.- Oregon Tech scored 6-runs in the 3rd and then held on late to down Corban 8-7 in game two to earn the sweep after taking game one, 5-2 in an NAIA-West doubleheader at Kiger Stadium Saturday afternoon. OIT improves to 9-7 in conference play and 14-17 on the year with the seep. Corban slips to 4-13 in conference and 10- overall with the losses.
Game 1
Good pitching and defense by both teams forced five innings of play before either Tech or Corban added any runs to the scoreboard. Starting Owls pitcher, John Schulz kept a clean sheet until the Warriors bats started connecting. With runners on 2nd and 3rd base, back to back SAC bunts by Tyler Reitz and Josh Ebert, advanced the runners home, putting 2 runs on the board for Corban. Leading off for Tech in the bottom of the 5th, catcher Justin Zavala hit a solo home run bringing the score 2-1 in favor of the visitors.
In the bottom of the 6th, the Owls rallied with 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd base. A ball hit hard down the third base line by Ryan Riepma, sneaking past the third baseman, carried into the outfield for a double, advancing both runners two bags. Blake Wrotenbery and Evan Johnson would both find hits and drive in RBI’s in the inning, bringing the score 4-2 for the Tech.
Kai Fong, taking a base on balls, advanced to 3rd base on a single, before being brought home for the lone score of the inning.
Game one came to a close with Corban unable to score again and the final score 5-2.
John Schulz picks up the win for Tech allowing just 4 hits and the 2 runs given up. The Owls had 5 runs on 13 hits with 4 RBI’s.
Rilyn Lewchuk picked up the loss for Corban allowing 8 hits and 4 runs. The Warriors had 2 runs on 7 hits and 2 RBI’s for the game.
Game 2
The second game started with two and a half scoreless innings, until Tech loaded the bases in the bottom of the 3rd and no outs. A deep single by Alex Paz drove in 2 runs, leaving two runners on base. The next at bat saw Kai Fong hit his third home run of the season, clearing the bases. A walked batter and a single with a fielding error brought in the lasts run of the inning for Tech, as the score sat 6-0 in favor of the home team heading into the 4th inning.
In the bottom of the 4th, leadoff batter Michael Kilpatrick hit a solo home run, his third of the season. The single run pushed the score to 7-0.
The top of the third saw the Warriors find their bats, as they capitalized on an Oregon Tech error. Corban had 2 runs on 3 hits, with Ethan Bragg and Kyle Kilian collecting the RBI’s.
Oregon Tech responded in the bottom with a double that smacked off the wall in deep left-center field by Paz, bringing home Tristan Shea from 2nd base.
In the 7th inning with a runner at 3rd base, a Jackson Smith single brought home the 3rd run of the game for the Warriors. Keeping the Owls scoreless in the 7th and 8th innings, the top of the 9th brought out a new energy in Corbans dugout. A 3 run homer by Andrew Axmaker, with no outs, made the game exciting closing the score to 8-6. A double, hit by Jackson Smith put him on second and was driven home by a base hit over the Owls shortstop by Zach Penrod. The score now 8-7, a runner on first and no outs. Corban put runners on 1st and 2nd again, with one out. A grounder to the second baseman set up the double play to end the game.
Doug Molzahn picks up the win on the mound for Tech giving up 3 runs on 8 hits. Avery Wood picked up his first save of the season. Paz and Fong led the game with 3 RBI’s each. Wrotenbery, Wolf, and Riepma contributed 2 hits in the game each.
Caleb Henry picks up the loss for Corban giving up 6 runs on 7 hits. Andrew Axmaker, Ethan Bragg and Josh Ebert all had 2 hits apiece as the RBI’s were shared amongst the team.
Oregon Tech moves to 14-17 on the season and Corban drops to 10-20.
The two teams will face off again tomorrow, Sunday in a double header starting at 11:00am.