News

Smith Becomes OIT Career Leader in Hits, Owls Split at Simpson

04.29.2011

With three hits in Friday's doubleheader, Trent Smith became Oregon Tech's all-time career hits leader. Smith has 227 hits with four games remaining in the season. (photo by Kelly Caleb)

REDDING, Calif. – Oregon Tech split the first two games of a six-game NAIA West road trip, taking game 1 over Simpson University, 2-0, and falling 3-2 in the nightcap.

Oregon Tech needed a gem on the mound, and got it from Zack O’Hanen, as he went the distance allowing just two Red Hawk hits while striking out three to pick up his first victory of the season.

Oregon Tech scored all the runs they would need in the opening inning, while O’Hanen cruised through his seven innings of work.

Colin Stock doubled with two outs in the opening frame, while Brad Walters followed with a triple to put Tech up 1-0. Ryan Hayden then singled to drive in Walters, as that would be the only runs by both teams in the opening game.

Walters was 2-for-3, while Kory Locken and Kyle Conner added base hits for the Owls.

In game 2, Simpson got on the board first with single runs in the first and third innings to move out to a 2-0 advantage.

OIT added a run in the bottom half of the third, while Simpson went up 3-1 with an insurance run in the eighth inning. The Owls mounted a rally in their bottom half, but could only manage to make it a 3-2 game. Both teams went scoreless in the last inning, as the Owl settled for the split.

Trent Smith, however, became the Oregon Tech all-time career hits leader after going 3-for-5 in the nightcap. Smith came into the contest tied with All-American, Ryson Mauricio, with 224 career hits and now has 227 to his credit with four games left in the season. Stock and Zack Earle added a hit and RBI in the game.

Oregon Tech will wrap up the season with a four-game series at Patten College with games on Saturday and Sunday.