KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – For the third-straight postseason game, Oregon Tech was forced to extra innings and for the third-straight postseason game – the Lady Owls earned a walk-off victory. Mckenzie Staub lined a slicing RBI double into the right field corner to score Lexi Klum from first base in the bottom of the eighth, as Tech topped Cottey (Mo.) 4-3 to close Day 1 of the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round Klamath Falls Bracket at Stilwell Stadium.
 
The win lifts the Owls (47-10) into a match-up against William Jessup tomorrow at Noon – with a date in Wednesday's championship game on the line. The game, along with all tournament games, will be broadcast at OregonTechOwls.com and live locally on 104.3 & 960 Sports.
 
Sarah Abramson struck out a season-high 14 batters to earn the victory for OIT – becoming just the second player in Cascade Conference history to win 100 games in a career. It marked the 24th time in Abramson's career that the right-hander struck out 10-or-more batters.

"What a gutsy performance from Sarah," said OIT head coach Greg Stewart. "We were able to take advantage of a few Cottey errors, which was the difference."
 
The Comets (30-16) rode lefty Lacey Cruz – who did not allow an earned run on the afternoon – finishing the game with five strikeouts – but the Missouri squad was unable to hold a late 3-2 lead.
 
Tech grabbed a 2-0 edge in the fifth – as Zoe Allen reached on a one-out error and moved to second on a passed ball. Kaila Mick followed, lining an RBI double just over the head of left fielder Alyssa Montoya for a 1-0 lead. OIT extended the lead to 2-0 later in the inning, as McKenna Armantrout scored on a double steal, just eluding the tag of catcher Lauren Johnson.
 
The lead was short lived – as the Comets answered in the sixth. An Aryana Palencia double off the wall in center put runners at second and third, with Jenna Wilson plating a run on an infield out. Pinch-hitter Diona Perkins followed, blasting a 2-run homer, just inside the left field foul pole, to give Cottey their first lead.
 
OIT capitalized on an error in the sixth to tie the score – as Klum singled and Aubrie Businger singled with two outs. Klum went first-to-third, with Businger advancing to second on the throw and Klum scoring when the return throw to second ended up in right field.
 
The hosts had a chance to win the game in the seventh, getting runners and second-and-third with one out, but Cruz fanned back-to-back hitters to force extra innings.
 
After Abramson worked a 1-2-3 eighth, Klum hit a grounder to short to lead off the frame that was bobbled, putting the potential winning run aboard. On an 0-2 pitch, Staub hit a low liner in front of right-fielder Melina Bueno that spun into the corner, allowing the Klum to race around the bags to set off a celebration.
 
Eight different OIT players had one hit in the game – the ninth win in a row for the Lady Owls – with their 47th victory marking the fourth time in program history OIT has won 47-or-more games.

"We hit some balls hard right at defenders today," Stewart said. "Hopefully we will start getting our offensive going tomorrow."
 
GAME 1 – WILLIAM JESSUP 4, RIO GRANDE 3: In the opener today, Sam Lorge blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, breaking a 3-3 tie, as William Jessup outlasted Rio Grande, 4-3.
 
The Warriors (37-13), making their national tournament debut, took a 3-1 lead in the second on RBI singles from Shay Trent and Maddy Ybarra. The Red Storm (39-14), battled back, scoring a unearned run in the third and tying the score on a Taylor Webb RBI single in the fifth.
 
Rio put the tying run at second with two outs in the seventh, but Webb was robbed of extra bases on a diving catch from shortstop Natalie Nash to end the game.
 
Katie Blankenheim logged her 20th win of the season for Jessup, with Webb and Shelby Schmidt each recording two hits for the Red Storm – the only players in either game today with a multi-hit effort.
 
NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round Klamath Falls Bracket (Day 1)
 
Game 1 – William Jessup 4, Rio Grande 3
Game 2 – Oregon Tech 4, Cottey 3 (8 inn.)
 
Tuesday's Schedule
 
Game 3 – Oregon Tech vs. William Jessup, Noon
Game 4 – Rio Grande vs. Cottey, 2:30 p.m. (loser out)
Game 5 – Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 5 p.m. (loser out)