COLUMBUS, Ga. – Erica Stahl hit a go-ahead 2-run home run in the sixth inning that proved to be the difference, as Southeastern University defeated Oregon Tech, 3-2, in an elimination game at the NAIA Softball World Series at South Commons Softball Complex.
 
The loss for the Lady Owls (50-13) ended the season, as OIT finishes in a tie for seventh-place in the tournament.
 
Playing their second game of the day in the heat and humidity, Tech took a 1-0 lead in the first, as Kaila Mick singled and scored on a wild pitch. However, the Lady Owls left the bases loaded – three of 10 runners stranded in the loss.
 
The Fire (51-12), making their second World Series appearance, tied the score in the second as Ashley Ellison doubled and scored on a throwing error.
 
The score would remain tied into the sixth, when Haleigh Harrell singled and an out later, Stahl launched her sixth homer of the season over the left field wall to give the Florida school their first lead.
 
Tech didn't quit, as a one-out double in the seventh by McKenna Armantrout was followed by a bloop single from Maggie Buckholz. A 2-out RBI single from Lexi Klum cut the deficit to one, but Jayce Seavert flew out to deep center to end the contest.
 
Sarah Abramson took the loss in her final game in an OIT uniform, allowing just two earned runs in five-plus innings of work. The senior struck out three batters, finishing her career with 912 strikeouts – the most by a pitcher in Cascade Conference history.
 
It was the final collegiate game for the four OIT seniors – Abramson, Armantrout, Aubrie Businger and Kennedy Jantzi. Armantrout played in more games than any other Lady Owl player in program history, Businger was a 2-time CCC gold glove winner and capped her career going 2-for-3 in today's game, with Jantzi finishing with 24 home runs in a Tech uniform.
 
NOTES 

• Tech finishes the season 50-13 – the most wins in school history
• OIT played 63 games in a season for the third time, with all three seasons ending with a trip to the NAIA World Series (1997, 2015, 2022)
• Maddie DeVerna pinch-ran in both games today, joining Abramson and Armantrout as the only OIT players to play in three NAIA Softball World Series