KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Julien Jones cleared the bases with an eighth inning go-ahead double in Game 2, helping Oregon Tech win a crucial Cascade Conference series with College of Idaho at Steen Sports Park.
The 4-run eighth inning rally was the difference in the Hustlin' Owls (20-10, 7-1 CCC) 7-6 victory. The visiting Yotes (19-10, 5-3) ended an OIT 7-game win streak with a wild 16-11 decision in today's opener.
"This conference is really competitive and it's always great to get a series win," said OIT head coach Jacob Garsez. "We were tough in a lot of moments and our offense showed its capabilities. We do need to clean some things up – but we look forward to continuing to make progress."
A pair of first inning unearned runs staked C of I to an early lead in the nightcap – but OIT chipped away at the margin. A 2-out error in the second by the Yotes allowed Griffin Thissell to score from second base, with the hosts tying the game in the fifth on a Jones sacrifice fly. An inning later, Ka'ala Tam walked, stole second, moved to third on an error and scored on a Dane Bradshaw infield single, giving Tech their first lead of the game.
The edge was short-lived, as C of I, as a Dillon Danner RBI single and a Jonah Hultberg sacrifice fly regained the Coyotes the lead, with a Jake Denison RBI single in the eighth extending the margin to 5-3.
Down to their final six outs, OIT responded. Sean Tobin blooped a one-out single and Bradshaw followed with a base hit to left. Korrey Siracusa made it a one-run game with an RBI double and following an intentional walk to Tyler Horner, Jones lined a ball off the center field wall, plating all three runners, giving the hosts the lead.
C of I threatened in the ninth, as Alex McFarland-Smith singled home a run. However, freshman Landon Cheney worked out of the jam, getting Ben Gaff to line out to right – earning his first collegiate win.
Starter Brendan Talonen tossed six-plus innings, allowing just two earned runs and struck out eight in a no-decision. Bryce Petrilla and Bradshaw had 2-hit games for OIT.
Skylar Sadora was 3-for-5 and Jake Denison had two hits and two RBI for C of I.
The opener featured two ties and five lead changes – as the Yotes rallied from an 8-4 deficit.
A 2-run single from Horner in a 4-run third inning gave Tech the big lead, but the Yotes took advantage of nine walks, four hit-by-pitches and four errors to retake the lead. A 2-out sixth inning error allowed a pair of runs to score, giving C of I an 11-9 edge. OIT pulled even in the bottom of the inning, as Bradshaw lined a 2-run double into the left field corner.
The Yotes put the game away in the late innings, taking the lead in the seventh on a Sadora RBI fielders' choice and tacked on four ninth inning runs to put the game away.
Nick Eliason earned the win for the visitors, tossing six innings of 3-run ball, striking out a career-high 11. Hultberg was 3-for-4 with an RBI for C of I.
Tech lost despite 15 hits, as Tam was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and Tobin added two doubles and two RBI, part of a 3-for-4 game.
The Owls hit the road next weekend to Lewiston, Idaho, for a 4-game series at No. 3-ranked Lewis-Clark State.
