via Oregon Tech Athletic Communications
MILWAUKIE, Ore. – Rallying from a 4-run deficit in Game 2, Oregon Tech used a 4-run ninth inning rally to secure a key series win at Warner Pacific, claiming a 9-6 victory in the nightcap at Milwaukie High.
The Owls (19-19, 12-14 CCC) dropped the opener in 11 innings, 9-8, but earned the late game victory, closing the road portion of their schedule with a 15-14 record and moving three games clear of Corban for the fifth and final spot in the Cascade Conference Tournament with 12 games left.
Logan Macy extended his hitting streak to 17 games, going 3-for-4 with four RBI in the Game 2 win. After spotting the Knights (11-28, 6-19) a 4-0 second inning lead, Macy lined a 2-run double in the third to get Tech on the board and pulled the visitors within 5-4 with a fifth inning 2-run homer.
Cal Pickhardt tied the game in the seventh with a sacrifice fly, setting the table for a big ninth inning. An error on a sacrifice bunt allowed the go-ahead run to score, with Michael O’Daniel following with an RBI single to make it 7-5. Landon Cheney had the big blow, a pinch-hit, 2-run single.
Starter Marcos Ulloa-Ford struck out eight in six innings, with reliever Noah Loew earning the win after tossing three one-hit innings, fanning five. Jojo Roman and O’Daniel each had two-hit games.
Tech squandered leads of 1-0, 5-1, 6-5 and 8-6 in the Game 1 loss – as Mitchell Thoma-Britt hit an 11th inning 3-run walk-off homer for the Knights.
OIT was limited to seven hits, but took advantage of 10 walks in the game. Macy had a first inning RBI double, Roman lined a 2-run second inning single, with Pickhardt giving the Owls a tenth inning lead with an RBI single. After WPU tied the game, Tech scored two runs on a Logan Williams pinch hit fielders choice – but couldn’t hold the lead.
Kaden Melzer was dominant in relief, allowing just one run in five innings of work, hold WPU to two hits, striking out three.
The Owls open a 12-game homestand to end the regular-season, beginning Saturday with a doubleheader vs. Corban.
