Oregon Tech Falls to No. 4 Marian 3-1
COSTA MESA, Calif.- Oregon Tech lost to No. 4 Marian (Ind.) 3-1 Tuesday in a winner’s bracket game on day 2 of the Vanguard Bracket of the NAIA Opening Round at Vanguard Field. The Owls (35-16) will now play at 4:30 pm today against the winner of the Vanguard vs Avila elimination game that starts at 1:45 pm.
Marian improves to 46-4 on the year and will wait to play the winner of the OIT vs Avila/Vanguard game in the Tournament Championship on Wednesday at Noon.
The Knights starting pitcher Breena Smith picked up the win against OIT to improve to 26-0 on the year as she allowed just 5-hits and 1-run as she finished with 8 strikeouts.
Marian broke-up a 0-0 game in the 5
th scoring 2-runs on 3-hits against Tech starter Loryn Williams who had pitched brilliantly up to that point. The Knights took advantage of wild pitch, a hit batter, and a walk on rarely called ball 4 by the umpire after Williams took more than 10 seconds to pitch after the batter stepped in the box on a 3-2 count.
Tech recovered scoring 1-run in the top of the 6
th to make it a 2-1 game as Katie Virtue doubled and later scored on an RBI single by Rashaun Sells.
The Knights added an insurance run in the top of the 7
th to take a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the 7
th.
Tech managed a 1-out single by Karly LeVeque but Smith finished strong for Marian getting the last to Owls out on strikes to preserve the win for the Knights.
Leveque finished with 2-hits to lead the Hooter.