CALDWELL, Idaho – Oregon Tech took advantage of six unearned runs and clubbed a late two-run homer in each game, as the No. 9 ranked Owls opened Cascade Conference play with a doubleheader sweep of The College of Idaho at Symms Field.
The two-time defending CCC champions won the opener, 5-2, then hung on for a 5-4 win in the nightcap.
Taylor Schmidt got the win in Game 1 for the Owls (17-4, 2-0 CCC), allowing six hits, an earned run, and striking out three for her league-leading tenth victory, then got the final three outs to pick up a save in Game 2.
OIT plated three runs in the first of the opener – getting a single, an error, and a walk to load the bags. With two outs, Jessica Shrum blooped a single just behind the pitching circle to get Tech on the board, with Ashley Sfetku doubling home a pair.
The Yotes (12-10, 0-2) scored single runs in the first two innings – scoring one in the first on an error, adding a Hannah Johnson sacrifice fly in the second.
Schmidt and C of I starter Nickayla Skinner each settled down the rest of the way, with the one mistake made by Skinner, as Jess Plummer launched a long two-run homer in the fifth.
Alyssa Davis went 2-for-3 with two runs scored for OIT, with Molly Mills going 3-for-4 for the Yotes.
Game 2 was dominated through six innings by Tech right-hander Rylee Carleton, who took a one-hit shutout and five-run lead into the final inning. However, Mills had a two-run single and Kayla Webb roped a two-run double to cut the margin to 5-4. Schmidt came on in relief, and with the tying run at third, got a pop out, ground out, and strikeout to end the game.
OIT took a 3-0 lead in the fifth, with the big blow a two-run single by Davis. Shawna Collins gave the Owls two much needed insurance runs in the seventh with a two-run homer.
Shrum and Sara Coates each had two hits for Tech, while Mills went 2-for-3 in the loss.
The C of I hosts Southern Oregon in a CCC twinbill tomorrow at 11 a.m.
