EUGENE, Ore. -  Bushnell showed some marked improvement after a difficult road trip, coming home to face the No. 1-ranked team in the NAIA as Oregon Tech swept the double header, 5-2 and 6-0.  
 
Bushnell (5-23, 2-12 CCC) was the victim of four straight run-rule losses at the hands of then-No. 3 Southern Oregon University in Ashland last weekend, but showed much better pitching on Friday against the Owls (32-4, 15-2).  
 
GAME ONE: Oregon Tech 5, Bushnell 2
 
The Beacons were on upset alert for much of the opener after taking a 2-1 lead in the second inning. Unfortunately, the Owls were able to mount the comeback with three runs in the sixth before adding an insurance score in the seventh to escape with the win.
 
Sara Martin (3-11) had one of her best outings of the season in the circle, throwing a complete game and allowing four earned runs while tallying one strikeout.
 
Makenzie Alexander (pictured) went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Beacons, part of a three-hit day, and had the go-ahead RBI on a single in the second. Violet Richardson had provided the first score with an RBI single in the first that scored Alexander after she reached with a leadoff bunt single.
 
The Owls were led by two-hit days from Nita Cook, Addison Kachnik, and Sawyer Stenson, but it was Brooklyn Loose that came up big with a two-run double down the left field line in the sixth inning to give OIT the lead.
 
Kristine Schmidt (13-1) got the victory, striking out five batters in a complete game effort.  
 
GAME TWO: Oregon Tech 6, Bushnell 0
 
OIT pitcher Alli Parker (10-0) remained undefeated after a stellar performance in game two, striking out eight Beacons in seven innings and giving up just two hits. Bushnell was able to get just two runners past first base in the game.
 
The Owls were methodical at the plate, scoring across five different innings to gradually pull away, despite strong pitching efforts from both Violet Richardson (2-5) and Gabby Garza. Richardson allowed three earned runs over four innings and picked up two strikeouts while Garza closed the final three innings, with two earned runs.
 
Cook and Loose did plenty of damage for OIT with three hits apiece while Puakea Milbourne went 1-for-4 with a solo home run.
 
UP NEXT: Bushnell and Oregon Tech will play the final two games of their series on Saturday beginning at 11:00 am.