GLENDALE, Ariz. – Late inning heroics were the story, as Oregon Tech and Arizona Christian split a softball doubleheader at the ACU Softball Complex.
The host Firestorm (1-3) erased a 5-0 deficit in the sixth inning to top Tech in extra innings, 6-5, while the Lady Owls struck for five runs with 2-outs in their final at bat, stealing a 5-3 victory in Game 2.
"A tale of two endings, but I was really proud of the ladies for battling back in Game 2," said OIT head coach
Greg Stewart. "We showed some heart and toughness to have a seventh inning rally. I am excited to see what this team can accomplish once we put it all together."
Tech (2-2) surrendered a first inning run and a pair of tallies in the fourth of the nightcap – and faced a sweep at the hands of ACU in the seventh, as
Addison Kachnik stood a first base with two outs.
Maddie DeVerna was hit by a pitch and
Kaila Mick followed with a 2-run double to cut the lead to 3-2.
Zoe Allen followed with an infield hit to put runners at the corners. With
Jayce Seavert at the plate, Stewart sent Allen, with the throw from Miranda Hippolito ending up into right centerfield, allowing both runners to score, giving OIT the lead.
It was enough for
Kacie Schmidt, who tossed a 1-2-3 seventh to earn a save, as
Jenna Gorden worked two scoreless innings of relief for the victory.
The script flipped in Game 1 – as a 2-run single from
Nita Cook in the fourth gave the Owls a lead and a Kachnik 2-run single in the fifth extended the margin to 5-0. ACU drew even in the sixth, with Neeley Bell hitting a game-tying grand slam homer.
Using the international tiebreaker in the eighth – OIT was unable to plate the courtesy runner at second base – while ACU ended the game with a walk-off sacrifice fly from Brenna Henry.
Kachnik was the lone OIT player with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4.
The Lady Owls close out the opening weekend with a Saturday doubleheader vs. Embry-Riddle at 1 p.m. (MT)
