Lady Owls Split with Menlo
03.02.2013
ATHERTON, Calif. — Oregon Tech came back from an opening game, 8-7, loss to outlast Menlo College in the second game of a non-league softball doubleheader Saturday. Tech won, 6-4, in eight innings. Oregon Tech moves to 15-4 on the season with the split.
“We gave them a pair of four-run innings, and that basically was their day,” OIT coach Greg Stewart said.
Jess Plummer hit her sixth home run of the season for the Hustlin' Owls, and Alyssa Davis hit her fifth for OIT in the opener.
Plummer came back with another home run in the second game and Rylee Carleton pitched the complete game victory for the Hustlin' Owls, who take a 15-4 record into a doubleheader today at Simpson Universtiy.
Game one, Oregon Tech took an early 2-0 lead off of Menlo starter Justine Roscoe. The Owls put a run on the board in each of the first and second innings and appeared to be in control until the bottom of the third when the Menlo offense came alive. In total, the Lady Oaks scored four runs on five hits to take a 4-2 lead after the third. Mary Hall led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on an Alyssa Holland sacrifice bunt. Following a fly-out for the second out of the inning, Menlo exploded for four consecutive hits to plate four runners and take the 4-2. Nicole Larson, Jessica Soliai, Ululani Reyes, and Sara Pedretti combined for four runs on four hits in the bottom of the third.
Oregon Tech answered with four runs in the top of the fourth inning. Tricia Davidson came on in relief for Menlo and was unable to get through the inning. In total, Davidson worked just .2 innings before Roscoe re-entered the game. The majority of the damage was done with two outs thanks to a two-run home run off the bat of Jess Plummer. When the inning was complete, Oregon Tech led 6-4.
Menlo responded with another crooked number in the bottom of the fourth, tossing up for runs on five hits once again. Hall once again led off the inning with a single. Holland was up next and ripped a double to put runners at second and third with no outs. Kayla Cisneroz was up next and laid down what was intended to be a squeeze bunt, but the throw to first was errant allowing both Hall to score and Cisneroz to reach first. Larson, Pedretti, and Soliai all singled in the inning and helped drive in the remaining three runs.
Justine Roscoe pitched an impressive three innings to close out the game and collect the win. Roscoe tossed three innings, surrendering just one run on two hits to finish out the game. In total, Roscoe went 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out four.
Game two, Oregon Tech again took an early lead in the second game. Jess Plummer uncorked a two-run home run off Menlo starter Mikayela Viramontes in the top of the first to take the early 2-0 lead. Menlo answered with a run, courtesy of the long ball, in the bottom of the first when Hall led off the game with a shot over the left-center field wall.
The Owls added another run in the top of the third and Menlo answered with another pair of runs in the bottom of third to tie the game. Emmeline Wang singled to lead of the inning and bring up Hall. Hall attempted a sacrifice but reached on a throwing error by Oregon Tech catcher Kayla Prock. Both Wang and Hall scored on a two-run double to right off the bat off Alyssa Holland.
The score remained tied until the top of the sixth when Oregon Tech added a run off Menlo relief pitcher Jiana Bowie. Trailing 4-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh the Lady Oaks threatened to take the doubleheader sweep. Casey Showalter drew a walk to lead off the inning. Katelyn Milligan pinch ran for Showalter and moved to third when Hall once again came through with a big hit, this time a single. With runners at first and second, Hailey Taylor pinch-hit and hit a fly ball to Oregon Tech right fielder Sara Coates. Coates dropped the fly ball allowing the tying run to score and putting runners on second and third with one out. Cisneroz was intentionally walked to load the bases when the drama unfolded. Larson was up and hit a ball on the button, but right at Oregon Tech first baseman Melissa Logan. Logan snatched the liner out of the air and then stepped on first to double up Cisneroz and end the inning.
Despite the outcome of the play, Menlo head coach Michell Vlahos was pleased with Larson's approach at the plate in the tense situation in the bottom of the seventh.
The tie was broken in the top of the eighth inning when Ashley Sfetku came through in a big way. With Logan on second per the international tiebreaker rule, Sfteku hammered a pitch to deep center to give Oregon Tech the 6-4 lead. Menlo was unable to answer in the bottom half of the inning and the Owls secured the doubleheader split.
Bowie took the loss in relief while Rylee Carleton collected the win. Carleton went the distance for the Owls allowing four runs on six hits, walking four and striking out three.
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