KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Dylan Rogers went 5-for-8 with three RBI, as Oregon Tech won their first-ever series against The College of Idaho, sweeping today's rain-shortened doubleheader from the Yotes at Kiger Stadium.
The Owls (15-27, 7-13 NAIA West) won the opening game, 8-1, then won the rain-shortened finale, 9-3. The Coyotes (18-18, 9-11) have now lost nine of their last 12 games.
Tech opened the scoring in the second inning of Game 1, as Tyler Conklin lined an RBI single, with a second run plating on a Coyote error. The Yotes cut the margin to 2-1 in the fifth on a Seth Champlin sacrifice fly, but could not get closer, as Talon Sisley and Darian Benanua limited The C of I to just two hits. OIT got an insurance run in the sixth, added a Rogers solo homer in the seventh, and plated four in the eighth to cap the scoring.
Conklin went 2-for-3 with three RBI, with Rogers and Alex Reynolds each recording two hits. Michael Garza took the loss for the Yotes, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits.
OIT used a three-run third to grab a 4-0 lead in Game 2, with a Ryan Hayden two-run triple providing the big blow. The Yotes, who stranded runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings, cut the margin to a single-run thanks to a Sam Johnston two-run double and a Riley Humberger RBI knock. However, Tech put the game away with a five-run fifth - including a two-run Tyson Dahl triple.
The Yotes had two men on with two out in the sixth when a snow and rain squall forced a delay - and after a 30-minute wait, the game was called due to the weather. OIT had 15 hits in the win, including a 3-for-4 effort from Rogers. Champlin went 3-for-3 for the Yotes in the loss.
The C of I has next weekend off, preparing for a key four-game series at Menlo College, April 20-21.
