SPRINGFIELD, Ore.  –  The Bushnell University baseball team won the series with Oregon Tech after a walk-off single from Cade Crist in the 14^th inning of Saturday's opener. The Owls took game three of the non-conference series, 11-5, at the Hamlin Sports Complex.
 
Crist, a local product out of Thurston HS said, "I am really proud of our guys for sticking with it throughout the game. I was just fortunate enough to be put in a good situation and put a good swing on the ball. It was a great team win."
 
The series, originally scheduled to be hosted in Klamath Falls, was moved to Springfield due to the snow. With the win in Saturday's opener, Bushnell (11-6) ties its win total from last season before the conference slate has even started. The Owls move to 13-9 on the year as they prepare for their first Cascade Collegiate Conference series this weekend.
 
Head Coach Tommy Richards said, "It was a beautiful day for baseball at Hamlin. I am proud of the team for their resolve in game one, but we need to be better in game two. We squandered some opportunities and gave away too many 90s which resulted in the game. We need to be better at minimizing the big inning, especially late in games."
 
Game 1: Bushnell 4, Oregon Tech 3 (14 innings)
 
The Beacons were held hitless through the first three innings and trailed by two after a scoreless fourth by both sides. Bushnell used a three-run bottom of the fifth to pull ahead, 3-2. Reece Carganilla and Cayden Delozier each had RBI-singles in the frame, while Ethan Stacy hit a sacrifice fly.
 
Oregon Tech tied the game in the top of the eighth on a single to left by Brodie Marino. Five scoreless innings passed as the sides entered the 14^th tied at 4-4.
 
Jayden Soriano struck out the first Owl and walked the second before ending the top half on a fielder's choice and a groundout. The Owls went on to get two quick outs in the bottom of the frame. Liam Kerr was hit by a pitch in the next plate appearance and Jeff Fripp was walked to put Beacons on first and second.
 
Cade Crist stepped up to the plate, ending the game in walk-off fashion with a single down the left field line, bringing home Kerr for the 4-3 victory.
 
Soriano (1-0) got the win on the mound, tossing three scoreless innings and allowing just two hits. Ethan Paulson was the starter for Bushnell, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits through four innings of work. Trevor Hammond pitched four innings, allowing one run followed by a scoreless three frames by Colby Knutzen.
 
Patrick Arman got the start for Oregon Tech, tossing five innings. Braeden Bellum followed with six scoreless innings, allowing four hits in the outing. Riley Cronin (0-2) finished off the game for the Owls, allowing one run on two hits.
 
Game 2: Oregon Tech 11, Bushnell 5
 
Bushnell dropped the series finale as Oregon Tech scored all 11 of their runs in the final three innings. The Beacons led 3-0 before a four-run seventh gave the Owls a 4-3 advantage. OIT piled on with two in the eighth and five more in the ninth to avoid the sweep.
 
Dylan Carson and Jordan Wilson each had a solo homer in the contest. The Beacons tallied 13 hits on the game but left 13 runners on base.
 
Oregon Tech tallied 15 hits and was led by a 2-for-4, three-RBI performance by Tyler Horner. The Owls recorded 15 hits on the game, 13 of which were singles.
 
Cody Dubray pitched the first four innings for the Owls, allowing three runs on six hits. Brendan Talonen (3-1) threw four scoreless innings before Drake Aboud and Landon Cheney split the ninth. Cheney posted the final two outs.

Up next, Bushnell travels to Western Oregon University for a game on Wednesday, March 15.