ASHLAND, Ore. –
Kaila Mick hit a go-ahead fifth inning home run as Oregon Tech clinched their second-straight Cascade Conference regular-season title with a 5-2 victory over No. 4-ranked Southern Oregon at University Field.
Following a dogpile celebration on their rivals' home diamond, the top-ranked Lady Owls (39-6, 26-1 CCC) completed their first sweep of SOU since 2014 with a 4-3 win in the non-conference finale.
OIT set a new CCC record with their 23rd-straight league win, securing the host bid for the CCC Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, May 5-7. It was the Owls 11th CCC regular-season title.
"That was a fantastic day for this group of young ladies," said OIT head coach
Greg Stewart. "We pitched well, played good defense and got some timely hits. I could not be prouder of their effort and want to thank my two assistant coaches -
Bobby Mick and Jamie LeVeque - for all they do to make this program a success."
After three scoreless innings in the opener, Tech took a 2-0 lead in the fourth thanks to their freshmen – as
Puakea Milbourne tripled home a run and
Addison Kachnik followed with a run-scoring single.
The Raiders (35-9, 21-5) tied the score in the bottom of the inning on a 2-out Sammie Pemberton single, but Mick hammered a Holly Fletcher pitch in the fifth over the right field wall to give OIT the lead.
Mckenzie Staub provided insurance in the seventh, lining a 2-run single.
It was more than enough for
Kacie Schmidt, as the junior limited the top-hitting team in the NAIA to just three singles, striking out five, for her 20th victory of 2023.
Mick was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and
Lexi Klum set a school record with her ninth triple of the year in the clinching win.
Tech never trailed in Game 2, taking advantage of four SOU walks in the second inning – as
Zoe Allen and Mick drew free passes with the bases loaded to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
The Raiders cut the margin to 2-1 in the fourth on a Hannah Clavelle pinch-hit single, but Staub answered in the fifth with a 2-out, 2-run double – which proved to be the difference.
SOU made it uncomfortable in the seventh – loading the bases with no outs. Sarah Kerling cut the lead to 4-2 with an RBI fielders' choice and a Deja Acosta sacrifice fly pulled the Raiders within a run. After a walk to slugger Riley Donovan loaded the bases, Staub coaxed Cayla Williams to ground out to short to end the game.
Mick capped a 5-hit day by going 2-for-3 in the nightcap, as Staub worked round seven hits and four walks to earn her 18th victory of 2023.
OIT closes out the regular-season this weekend, hosting British Columbia in a 4-game series (Friday-Saturday) at Stilwell Stadium.
