COLUMBUS, GA –
Maggie Buckholz (#2 Pictured) hit a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the 9th inning on Saturday night, sending Oregon Tech to the winner's bracket championship game on Monday. The sophomore transfer from New Mexico sat back on a 1-2 pitch and drove it over the right-center wall sending the Owl faithful into jubilation. The victory for the Owls sets them up against a familiar foe in College of Idaho, as the two will battle for a spot in the NAIA Softball World Series Championship Game on Wednesday.
"That was a fantastic game from start to finish," said head coach
Greg Stewart. "I am so proud of these ladies as they continue to battle and respond to adversity.
They are truly a mentally tough group that picks each other up in so many situations. Sarah pitched great after giving up some early runs and we played good defense behind her.
We got some clutch hits to tie the game up and also to take the lead, but Maggie's walk off will be a swing that many of our families and fans will remember for a long time"
No. 2 Oregon Tech 5 No. 6 Madonna University 4 (9 Innings)
In the winner's bracket quarterfinal game, the ace from both sides dealt early on.
Sarah Abramson and her opponent Maeson Schlaud each threw two quick scoreless frames to open up the contest.
In the 3rd inning, Madonna would break through, scoring three runs on four hits. The 3-0 lead the Crusaders jumped out to handed the Owls their largest deficit since March 27th, but it wouldn't last long.
Tech would respond in the bottom of the 3rd, plating three runs to tie the game. The three run rally came with two outs, as
Kaila Mick and
Krista Ward came through with RBI singles.
In the 5th inning, Mick would come through again, this time with a SAC Fly to give the Owls the lead.
The Owls would hold a 4-3 advantage until the 7th inning when the Crusaders tied it up.
With two outs and two strikes on her, Alyssa Fessenden doubled to deep left-center to keep Madonna alive, knotting the score at 4.
Both sides would go quiet in the next few frames, bringing up
Maggie Buckholz to lead off the 9th.
Buckholz stared down the 1-0 pitch and unloaded to launch the ball over the fence and clinch the victory.
Buckholz trotted around the bases before getting mobbed at home plate, but this time unlike any other of her nine home runs this season.
Sarah Abramson was solid again in the circle for Tech, throwing a complete game.
Abramson threw nine innings allowing four runs on 11 hits while striking out eight.
Tech will face No. 4 College of Idaho on Monday at 4pm, with the winner earning a bid into the national championship game.
