via Oregon Tech Athletic Communications
IRVINE, Calif. – Oregon Tech split a doubleheader on Day 3 of their season opening trip to Orange County – defeating Bethesda University, 10-2, before dropping an afternoon match-up with No. 2-ranked Hope International, 19-8.
The Hustlin’ Owls (3-1) will have an off-day on Thursday, preparing for a Friday afternoon doubleheader vs. HIU, before ending the trip Saturday at The Master’s.
GAME 1 – OIT 10, Bethesda 2: In the opener, Alex Rodriguez and Jace Elzy combined for five shutout innings of relief, with Julien Jones and Keanu Mizuta posting 3-hit games in the win over the Flames (0-7).
Tech jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings – getting first inning RBI singles from Jones and Mizuta, while Patrick Barry delivered a second inning run with a ground out and a second run scoring on a BU throwing error.
After Hector Navarro pulled the Flames within 4-2 with a fourth inning double, OIT plated two in the sixth and added a 4-run eighth – including a Mizuta RBI double, a Ty Blakely RBI single and sacrifice flies from Dane Bradshaw and Barry.
Rodriguez earned the victory, tossing three innings, retiring 9-of-10 batters, striking out one, with Elzy tossing two innings, allowing one hit and fanning a pair. Jones was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, Mizuta was 3-for-4, with Blakely posting a 2-hit day.
Flames starter Jamie Duran allowed six runs in seven innings – taking the loss.
GAME 2 – Hope International 19, OIT 8: Facing the defending NAIA champs, Tech had leads of 2-0 and 6-5 – but the Royals (2-3) hit four home runs and scored the final nine runs of the day to break a tight game open.
OIT jumped ahead in their opening at bats, as Tyler Horner doubled and scored on a 2-run homer off the bat of Jones. HIU answered with five runs in their own half of the first, as Amari Bartee led off the inning with a solo homer and Branden Chun-Ming doubled home a pair.
The Owls regained the lead in the second, cutting the margin to 5-3 on a 2-out Matthew Ortiz single, with Horner blasting a 3-run home run, the 29th of his career, to give Tech the lead.
HIU returned the favor in the bottom of the inning, taking the lead on a Kyle Harvey double, with an Alec Castillo home run extending the margin to 10-6.
Tech got within 10-8 in the fourth on a Barry RBI double and an Ortiz sacrifice fly – but the Royals capitalized on 11 walks and 18 hits – scoring the final nine runs – including a Nathan Estrada seventh inning grand slam that broke the game wide open.
Horner finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and Korrey Siracusa recorded a 2-hit game for OIT. Boston was 4-for-4 with two doubles and a homer for HIU, as eight pitchers saw action in the win.
