ROCKLIN, Calif. – Oregon Tech closed out their preseason schedule at Whitney High School, claiming a run-rule win over Simpson University, before dropping a tight one-run decision to Jessup University.
 
Kaila Mick had three doubles and four RBI in a 9-1 win over SU, before JU used a key 2-out fourth inning double to sink the Lady Owls (8-4), 2-1.
 
Five players in the opener had multi-hit games, as Tech erased a 1-0 first inning lead by scoring the final nine runs of the contest.
 
OIT batted around for six runs in the third – as Mick gave the Owls the lead with a 3-run double, followed by a Puakea Milbourne 2-run homer. Addision Kachnik capped the rally with a run-scoring triple to right.
 
While Mckenzie Staub limited the Redhawks (3-9) to just four hits in five strong innings, the offense added on insurance. Lexi Klum lined a fourth inning RBI single to push the lead to 7-1, while in the sixth, Klum and Mick had back-to-back run-scoring doubles to close the scoring.
 
Nita Cook, Klum and Milbourne each finished 2-for-4, with Malia Mick going 2-for-3 for Tech.
 
In the nightcap, the Warriors (14-2) had one chance against starter Kacie Schmidt and made the most of it – as Aaliyah Pineda blooped a fourth inning 2-run double just inside the left field line with 2-outs, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead.
 
Tech had opportunities – stranding runners in scoring position in the first three innings. The Owls broke through in the fifth on a Zoe Allen RBI single, but were unable to plate the tying run with runners in scoring position in the fifth and seventh innings.
 
Allen finished 3-for-3 and Cook added two hits in the loss.
 
OIT opens up conference play next weekend, traveling to La Grande for a Top-25 showdown at No. 24-ranked Eastern Oregon.