PORTLAND | Warner Pacific Softball stunned the No. 5 Oregon Tech Lady Owls with a 3-2 victory on Friday afternoon. The Knights, handing the Lady Owls just their fifth loss on the season in the game one victory, dropped game two to OIT and move to 13-16 (6-11 CCC) with one more doubleheader scheduled for Saturday.
 
"These were big games for us as we make a push towards the post-season this last few weeks, and the team played really well today" said Knights head coach Nathan Ohta. "We've been talking a lot about controlling the controllables" he said. "Covid has provided all kinds of things that could be used as excuses and there's a lot that happens over the course of a season that we can't control. But we can come ready to play, with high energy, and confidence that comes from the hard work we've put in to prepare. The team did that today in every facet of the game. I'm proud of them for that effort and how they competed today" the second year coach added.

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The Rundown
Emma Foster got it started in game one with a second inning homerun to take the lead over the Lady Owls for her second homer of the year.
 
During OIT's half of the second inning, Krista Ward sent a ball far beyond the left wall. After two innings and a pair of home runs, the two teams were knotted at one a piece.
 
The following inning, each pitcher faced just three batters as the defense behind them did their jobs.
 
Top of the fourth inning, the Knights' offense was having themselves a day. Devinne Amesquita opened the inning up with a single up the middle.

Followed by a walk, another single and a walk, Amesquita scored. Knights up 2-1. With two outs to go, Macy Besuyen stepped up to the plate for a ground out, for what would send Emma Foster home for the game-winning run.
 
With six hits for the game, the Knights had upset the Lady Owls.
 
Melia Croydon walked just one batter in 27 at bats in the contest.
 
In the second match up of the day, the Knights hit the ball extremely well. Devinne Amesquita and Macy Besuyen each knocked home runs over the boundaries while Payton Hergert, Devinne Amesquita and Paityn Willoughby each with doubles.
 
Warner Pacific gave up seven runs to the Lady Owls in the first three innings of the game, while scoring four themselves. The Knight defense cleaned up for innings three through seven, keeping OIT from crossing the plate.
 
Devinne Amesquita started the offense for the Knights with a double down the left side. Two batters later, Paytin Willoughby knocked out a double to bring Amesquita home.

After giving up two OIT runs just the next half inning, Macy Besuyen, Warner Pacific's first batter of the third inning sent the ball well beyond the fence for her first homer of the year. Three batters later, with a player on-base, Devinne Amesquita sent the ball soaring over the left field fence for a 2-run RBI to tie the ball game.
 
Responding and refusing to take two losses on the day, OIT crossed the plate three times in the bottom of the third and through the next three innings, each defense got the job done keeping their opponent from crossing the plate.
 
With hopes of a powerful seventh inning and three players on the plate, Payton Hergert notched herself an RBI, making it a 5-7 ball game before OIT's Sarah Abramson struck out Jamie Carlson for the game's final out of the game.
 
Deeper Look
Macy Besuyen finished the day with 2 RBI's and a homerun, Devinne Amesquita finished with 2 RBI's and a homerun while Payton Hergert and Paityn Willoughby each finished with a double each.
 
Flash Forward
Warner Pacific faces the Lady Owls for two more games on Saturday afternoon at 11am and 1pm.