ROCKLIN, Calif. – Playing for the first time in two weeks, top-ranked Oregon Tech split a pair of softball games in the California Round-Robin, losing a tight 3-2 decision to host Jessup, before topping Menlo, 7-4, at Whitney High.
 
Kaila Mick continued her hot start to the season for the Lady Owls (7-3), going 5-for-7 with two doubles, a triple and five RBI in the twinbill.
 
Mick opened the scoring in the opener against JU (12-2), lining an opposite field 2-run double in the first inning – but Warriors starter Katie Blankenheim limited the OIT offense to two hits over the final six innings.
 
The Warriors posted five hits in the game – three of them RBI doubles. Sarah Giles Kaitlyn Fanning tied the score in the fourth with an RBI double, with JU plating the go-ahead run in the fifth on a Sam Lorge 2-base hit.
 
Mick was 2-for-3, adding her fourth triple of the season in the losing effort. Kacie Schmidt went the distance, walking three and striking out four for Tech.
 
In Game 2, both OIT and Menlo (9-5) scored three first inning runs. Mick started the scoring with an RBI double, followed by a 2-run Lexi Klum single to give the Owls the early edge. It didn't last long, as Bella Cortez slugged a 3-run homer in the bottom of the frame to tie the score.
 
Tech regained the lead in the fifth, as Klum lined her fourth homer of the year to left, but the Oaks knotted the score at 4-4 on a Maya Bivens RBI single.
 
The lone error of the game was the deciding factor – as MC pitcher Shelby White made an errant throw to third with two runners on in the sixth, allowing Marla Goodspeed to score the go-ahead run. Klum followed with a 2-run single to put the game out of reach.
 
Schmidt earned the win, tossing 2-plus innings of shutout relief. Klum was 4-for-4 with two doubles, the homer and three RBI, Mick was 3-for-4 with three RBI and Nita Cook added a 3-hit game.
 
The Lady Owls close out tournament play tomorrow, meeting Simpson at 10:30 a.m. and Jessup at 2 p.m.