KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Eastern Oregon split Sunday's doubleheader, falling 15-5 in Game 3 before closing the series with a thrilling 17-15 win over Oregon Tech. Despite the strong finish, the Owls claimed the series 3-1.
Game 3
Oregon Tech jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, retiring the Mountaineers with three consecutive lineouts before stringing together a big offensive inning. The Owls used a single and three straight walks to plate their first run, then followed with a double to drive in three more. OIT added another run in the second, loading the bases with two hit batters before a wild pitch brought one home. The Owls kept Eastern Oregon quiet through five innings, allowing just two walks.
The Mountaineers broke through in the sixth, cutting into the deficit. With two on,
Andrew Demianew doubled to right-center for EOU's first run. An Oregon Tech error later in the inning allowed two more runs to score, making it 5-3. Eastern carried the momentum into the seventh, tying the game at 5-5 on a sacrifice fly from
Jace Nagler and an RBI single by
Mario Landeros.
Oregon Tech responded immediately, reclaiming the lead in the bottom of the seventh before breaking the game open in the eighth. The Owls combined five hits, five free bases, and an error to score nine runs, securing a 15-5 run-rule victory in eight innings.
Ryan Vorpahl (0-1) took the loss for Eastern Oregon, while Maros Ulloa-Ford (3-1) earned the win for Oregon Tech.
Game 4
Eastern Oregon bounced back in a big way to close the series, outlasting Oregon Tech in a high-scoring 17-15 battle.
The Mountaineers struck first on a Demianew sacrifice fly, then extended their lead in the second. With the bases loaded, Nagler singled through the left side to bring in two runs. Another RBI single from Demianew and a wild pitch pushed the lead to 5-0.Oregon Tech answered in the bottom half, scoring twice on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly. Eastern added another run in the fourth on Demianew's second sacrifice fly of the game, but the Owls again responded, capitalizing on free bases and an error to cut the deficit to two.
In the fifth, Greyon McDaniel led off with a double before
Kai Brown launched a two-run homer to give EOU an 8-4 advantage. The Mountaineers added another run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly, while Oregon Tech answered with one of its own following a throwing error. Eastern pushed its lead to 10-7 in the seventh on an RBI single from
Joey Weissenfels, but the Owls surged ahead in the bottom half. An RBI walk, a grand slam, and another RBI walk gave Oregon Tech an 11-10 lead.
The back-and-forth battle continued as Eastern answered with authority.
David Soto delivered an RBI single, Brown added a two-run double, and
Jake Sauceda drew an RBI walk to put EOU back on top, 14-11.Oregon Tech wasn't done, retaking a 15-14 lead by capitalizing on a two-out error, a wild pitch, and a clutch single.
In the final inning, the Mountaineers delivered the decisive rally. Taking advantage of a hit-by-pitch, an Owl throwing error, and a key double from
Mario Landeros, Eastern plated three runs to reclaim the lead, 17-15.
Tucker Zander shut the door in relief, allowing just one hit in the final frame to secure the victory. Zander (1-0) earned the win, while Oregon Tech's Caleb Randolph (0-2) took the loss.
Up Next
Eastern Oregon returns to action Friday, April 3, traveling to Eugene to face Bushnell. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
