News

Tech falls in NAIA West finals, season comes to end

05.08.2010

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Oregon Tech never could recover from a 7-0 deficit in the NAIA West Region finals, as the No. 8 ranked University of British Columbia Thunderbirds won the NAIA West Grouping Tournament for the second straight year with an 11-3 win Saturday at Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver.

A six-run third inning for UBC was the difference. The T-Birds were able to push four runs across before Hustlin' Owls starter Darryl Swearingen was able to record an out. Two Owl errors committed in the inning led to three of their six runs in the frame ending up unearned.

A two-out throwing error by UBC shortstop Sammie Starr led to all three Owls runs in the bottom of the third. Two runs scored after his throw sailed into the Oregon Tech dugout, and a Ryson Mauricio single drove in a third run one batter later.

That was all the offense the Owls could muster on the day, as T-Birds starter Brandon Kaye allowed just six

Oregon Tech All-American, Ryson Mauricio, finished a brilliant career for the Owls with two hits and a RBI in his final collegiate game. (photo by Kelly Caleb)

hits and three unearned runs over five innings of work. Four other UBC pitchers each went one inning of relief, and none of them allowed more than one hit or walk.

Shaky defense plagued both teams on Saturday, as each side committed four errors, but the T-Birds were able to create much more damage out of the Owls' mistakes. A throwing error in the fourth led to UBC's eighth run of the day, and one of their three runs in the fifth inning also came on a throwing error.

Oregon Tech connected for eight hits, with Phil Sacks leading the Tech offense with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate, including a double and a run scored on the day. Ryson Mauricio went 2-for-3 with a RBI, while Cory Staniforth doubled and Kyle Hansen and Colin Stock accounted for the other two Owl hits.

Oregon Tech finished the 2010 campaign winning the NAIA West South Division with a 17-14 mark, while going 27-30 overall.