News

Oregon Tech Splits with Menlo in Final Homestand of Season

04.23.2011

First baseman Wade Elliot blasted two homeruns over the weekend. (photo by Kelly Caleb)

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Oregon Tech pounded out 15 hits, including six for extra bases, to defeat Menlo College 13-4 in game 1, while the Oaks bounced back to earn an 8-5 win in the nightcap this afternoon at Kiger Stadium.

Game 1 starter Aaron Jorgensen pitched a complete game six-hitter to earn his first win of the year. Trent Smith and Kory Locken recorded three hits apiece in the opener, with Colin Stock and Ryan Hayden adding two hits each. With a single in game 2, Smith ties the OIT career hits mark and is now just one hit away of from becoming the Oregon Tech career hits leader.

Zack Earle, with three hits, was the only Owl with a multi-hit game in the nightcap, including a double. Wade Elliot added his second homerun of the weekend with a solo shot in the second inning.

After Menlo jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the opener, the Owl bats came alive in the third inning, as OIT took their first lead of the day, 3-2. Smith tripled to start the rally, while Locken, Stock and Dylan Rogers each singled to drive in a run each.

Menlo would tie the game at 3-3, but a four-run fourth inning would be all the run support Jorgensen would need. Smith drove in Kyle Conner, who earlier doubled, while Brad Walters belted a double that drove in two runs and Ryan Hayden drove in the fourth Owl run after a single.

Zack Earle sparked a six-run fifth inning after a double off the left field fence put Owls on second and third. Oregon Tech would score two runs on wild pitches in the inning, while Smith and Stock added RBI singles and Ryan Hayden highlighted the inning with a two-run blast that put Tech up by nine runs. Jorgensen held Menlo scoreless over the next two innings to seal the win for the Owls.

Game 2 saw Menlo up 4-0 before the Owls would cut their deficit in half after the third inning. Wade Elliot got the Owls on the board with a solo shot in inning two and Stock drove in a run on a sac fly in the third.

Menlo pushed a single run across in the fourth inning and two more in the sixth to go up 7-2.

Oregon Tech added a run in the seventh inning to make it 7-3, but Menlo answered with an insurance run in the ninth to go back up 8-3. Oregon Tech rallied for two runs in the ninth, on a Smith single that drove in both OIT runs, but the game would wind up 8-5 after a strikeout ended the game.

Oregon Tech is now 14-30 overall and 3-15 in NAIA West play and will visit Patten University in Oakland this weekend to close out the season.