KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – On a day when offense tough to come by, McKenna Armantrout provided all the run support Oregon Tech would need, lacing a 2-run third inning single, leading the Lady Owls into the championship game of the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round Klamath Falls Bracket with a 2-0 victory over William Jessup at Stilwell Stadium.
 
The Lady Owls (48-10), who tied a school record with their 48th win of the season, will earn a rematch with WJU tomorrow at 1 p.m. – needing one win to advance to their third-straight NAIA Softball World Series.
 
Sarah Abramson picked up her 13th shutout victory of the season, limiting the Warriors (38-14) to just three singles – with the California school failing to get a runner to third base. The right-hander struck out eight batters without a walk, logging her 28th win of the year.
 
"We pitched great and played solid defense today," said OIT head coach Greg Stewart. "I am really proud of how these ladies are competing against tough competition.
 
Jessup had their best scoring chance in the second, as Natalie Nash and Kaylee Winn rapped back-to-back one out singles. Abramson ended the rally, striking out Aaliyah Pineda and Kayla Altheide to get out the jam.
 
While Abramson retired 17 of the final 19 batters of the game, Tech manufactured their rally in the third.  Mckenzie Staub was hit by the first pitch of the frame. Aubrie Businger dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but WJU tried to get the out at second – with Sam Lorge's throw off-line. Following a strikeout, Kayla Mick hit a ground ball to second, with Businger beating the throw to second to load the bags. Armantrout had the lone hit of the frame, hitting the next pitch on a rope up the middle, plating a pair, giving the Owls the 2-0 lead.
 
WJU did not have another base runner until Lorge was hit by a pitch with one out in the seventh, but a pair of ground outs ended the game.
 
Lexi Klum was 2-for-2 in the win for OIT, as Tech was limited to four hits in the win before a near capacity crowd.
 
"Our team is so thankful for the support we are getting from the fans," Stewart said.
 
GAME 4 – RIO GRANDE 8, COTTEY 7: Taylor Webb smashed a walk-off solo home run to right in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Rio Grande rallied from a 5-0 deficit to eliminate Cottey College from the tournament. The Red Storm (40-14) got a pair of home runs from Kenzie Cremeens, including a 3-run shot, to pull within 7-5, with a 2-run triple from Caitlyn Brisker in the sixth tying the score – setting the stage for Webb's heroics. The Comets (30-17) jumped out quickly – as a Caitlyn Morgan RBI single in the first and a 3-run triple from Lauren Johnson staked the Missouri club to a 4-0 second inning lead.  Maya De Sota hit two homers – a solo shot in the third and a 2-run blast in the fifth to extend the Cottey lead, but the squad was unable to hold the lead.
 
GAME 5 – WILLIAM JESSUP 12, RIO GRANDE 1 (5 INN): Jessup punched their ticket to the title game, scoring the final 12 runs of the game to end the contest in five innings. Rio struck in the third, as Shelby Schmitt singled in a run – but an error to start the fourth by the Red Storm led to five unearned runs by the Warriors. An inning later, WJU batted around for seven runs, as Shay Trent had a 2-run double and Pineda added a 2-run single – benefiting Katie Blankenheim, who tossed a 5-hitter.
 
NAIA SOFTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OPENING ROUND KLAMATH FALLS BRACKET
 
GAME 1 – William Jessup 4, Rio Grande 3
GAME 2 – Oregon Tech 4, Cottey 3 (8 inn.)
 
GAME 3 – Oregon Tech 2, William Jessup 0
GAME 4 – Rio Grande 8, Cottey 7 (loser out)
GAME 5 – William Jessup 12, Rio Grande 1 (loser out)
 
GAME 6 – Oregon Tech vs. William Jessup, 1 p.m.
GAME 7 – if necessary, 30 minutes after Game 6